Call for checks to prevent HFMD outbreak

LABUAN, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- The Labuan Registered Caretakers Association has urged parents and guardians of children under its care to subject them to hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) checks before the childcare opening day scheduled for Jan 2.

Its chairman, Suzana Karumin, said the checks were necessary in view of an increase in “imported” HFMD cases at the beginning of the childcare opening term every year.

She disclosed that about 90 per cent of the children aged between three months and four years currently under the Taska and Tabika childcare centres had gone to the Borneo mainland with their parents and guardians for the Christmas and year-end holidays.

"We want to ensure that all children under our care are free from HFMD cases before entering our centres for their own good and also for the sake of other children," she said.

Suzana said the checks were part of the association's efforts to ensure that no Taska or Tabika childcare centre is issued with a closure notice due to an HFMD outbreak.

The Labuan Health Department yesterday issued a high-alert statement on “imported” HFMD spreading among the children here as the school term begins next month.

Its director, Dr Ismuni Bohari, said that over the years, a high number of the HFMD cases reported were imported ones.

"We are issuing a reminder to kindergarten and childcare centres to be constantly alert for a possible outbreak," he told Bernama.

For the first six months of this year, a total of 246 cases were recorded, with up to 10 kindergartens and childcare centres issued with a closure notice.

The Sabah Health Department recorded 940 HFMD cases and 30 statewide outbreak episodes up to May 19 this year.

-- BERNAMA