DH urges hygiene as hand, foot and mouth disease cases rise
Hong Kong's Department of Health has urged the public to maintain hygiene as hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks increase in schools and child care centres. The Centre for Health Protection will update schools and requires immediate reporting of outbreaks, noting alcohol-based handrub is not a su
The Department of Health (DH) on Wednesday urged the public to maintain hygiene as local cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have increased recently.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the DH will issue letters to schools today, updating them on the latest HFMD situation. Schools and institutions are required to report any outbreak to the CHP immediately.
According to the CHP's latest surveillance data, eight outbreaks in institutions and schools, affecting 27 people, were recorded per week in mid-September. The number of HFMD outbreaks increased gradually to 12, 11 and 20 outbreaks per week in the past three weeks.
From Sunday to Tuesday, nine outbreaks affecting 24 people were reported. Ninety per cent of the outbreaks occurred in child care centres, kindergartens and primary schools.
HFMD is a common disease in children caused by enteroviruses, such as Coxsackie virus and EV71. It occurs throughout the year in Hong Kong, with the usual peak from May to July and from October to December.
The DH said HFMD usually causes mild symptoms, including fever, poor appetite, fatigue and sore throat, followed by painful mouth sores that may ulcerate. Most people recover without treatment in seven to 10 days.
The department also reminded that alcohol-based handrub should not substitute hand hygiene with liquid soap and water, as alcohol does not effectively kill some viruses that cause HFMD.