Borneo Bullentin
27 Apr 2008
Several parents have expressed their concern over the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) outbreak which has been reported in Singapore where 880 new cases were reported in four days. This is especially so for those who travelled to the neighbouring country.
The dpa news service reported yesterday that teachers, administrative staff and cleaners scrubbed Singapore preschools and childcare centres Friday to curb the HFMD outbreak.
Dpa added, with the latest Health Ministry of Singapore data showing this year's total infections at 8,400, officials are now providing daily updates instead of weekly ones.
At least 16 schools have been closed because of the outbreak. Another nine have been urged to voluntarily shut down for 10 days. The disinfection is aimed at halting the transmission of the disease, which is spread through saliva, blister fluid, faeces and droplets in the air. Professionals have been called to service air conditioners and fumigate.
Sources said such HFMD cases have also occurred in Brunei but have been on the decline lately. From early to end of August 2007, about 90 HFMD cases were recorded in Brunei, the Ministry of Health said. While from early March to mid April 2006, some 580 cases were recorded, the majority of which were outpatient cases.
http://www.brunei-online.com/weekend/news/apr26h6.htm
