ID :
23282
Wed, 10/08/2008 - 20:24
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23282
The shortlink copeid
EAST M`SIA SARAWAK ON HIGH ALERT FOR HFMD TO PREVENT MAJOR OUTBREAK
KUCHING (Malaysia), Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Dr
George Chan is calling on the public to be on high alert for the hand, foot and
mouth disease (HFMD) to prevent a major outbreak.
Dr Chan, who is also the state Disaster and Relief Management Committee
chairman, said Sarawak was stepping up prevention and control of HFMD following
the detection of the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71) in the middle of the
year.
"We want to prevent a major outbreak. We want to break the HFMD cycle. So,
we are getting ready for the forthcoming Christmas and Chinese New Year
celebrations as it could be the starting point of a HFMD outbreak.
"This is simply because more people will be coming together for the
celebrations and the disease can spread very fast in crowded situations," he
told a press conference at his office here Tuesday.
The sentinel surveillance programme conducted by the Sarawak Health
Department and Institute of Health and Community Medicine, Universiti Malaysia
Sarawak (Unimas) found an outbreak of HFMD every three years in Sarawak -- 1997,
2000, 2003 and 2006.
The HFMD outbreak in 1997 was found to be due to EV71, which killed
about
30 children in Sarawak. That was the first recognition of EV71 in
Malaysia.
Last Tuesday, a four-year-old boy in Sibu died from suspected HFMD,
sparking fear of a new outbreak.
However, Dr Chan said the death did not constitute an outbreak and the
situation was under control now.
He urged parents and carers to send the children to hospital immediately if
they found symptoms like high fever for more than two days, repeated vomiting,
painful red blister-like lesions, poor appetite, increased irritability and
dehydration.
"Early detection and treatment can save the child's life,"
he
said.
Dr Chan also advised parents and child carers to practise good hygiene and
observe cleanliness at all times to prevent the spread of the disease.
"Don't think HFMD is a children's disease. Adults who come into contact
with infected children can pass the virus to others. So adults, especially
parents with young children, must practise good hygiene before handling the
children.
"Frequent washing of hands has proven to be effective in keeping the
disease at bay," he said.
A total of 5,686 cases had been reported in Sarawak up to Oct 4 compared
with 6,268 in the same period last year.
George Chan is calling on the public to be on high alert for the hand, foot and
mouth disease (HFMD) to prevent a major outbreak.
Dr Chan, who is also the state Disaster and Relief Management Committee
chairman, said Sarawak was stepping up prevention and control of HFMD following
the detection of the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71) in the middle of the
year.
"We want to prevent a major outbreak. We want to break the HFMD cycle. So,
we are getting ready for the forthcoming Christmas and Chinese New Year
celebrations as it could be the starting point of a HFMD outbreak.
"This is simply because more people will be coming together for the
celebrations and the disease can spread very fast in crowded situations," he
told a press conference at his office here Tuesday.
The sentinel surveillance programme conducted by the Sarawak Health
Department and Institute of Health and Community Medicine, Universiti Malaysia
Sarawak (Unimas) found an outbreak of HFMD every three years in Sarawak -- 1997,
2000, 2003 and 2006.
The HFMD outbreak in 1997 was found to be due to EV71, which killed
about
30 children in Sarawak. That was the first recognition of EV71 in
Malaysia.
Last Tuesday, a four-year-old boy in Sibu died from suspected HFMD,
sparking fear of a new outbreak.
However, Dr Chan said the death did not constitute an outbreak and the
situation was under control now.
He urged parents and carers to send the children to hospital immediately if
they found symptoms like high fever for more than two days, repeated vomiting,
painful red blister-like lesions, poor appetite, increased irritability and
dehydration.
"Early detection and treatment can save the child's life,"
he
said.
Dr Chan also advised parents and child carers to practise good hygiene and
observe cleanliness at all times to prevent the spread of the disease.
"Don't think HFMD is a children's disease. Adults who come into contact
with infected children can pass the virus to others. So adults, especially
parents with young children, must practise good hygiene before handling the
children.
"Frequent washing of hands has proven to be effective in keeping the
disease at bay," he said.
A total of 5,686 cases had been reported in Sarawak up to Oct 4 compared
with 6,268 in the same period last year.
