14 Sep 2000
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE BY
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT (ENV),
MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS (MCDS)
AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH (MOH)
Following the recent media stories on the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), among children attending several childcare centres, parents have become more aware of the disease. Not surprisingly, they are also very concerned. We would like to assure parents that they should not be unnecessarily alarmed.
We would like to reiterate that HFMD is a common, mild, but contagious childhood disease. Like many other childhood diseases, it is self-limiting, lasting from 5 - 7 days. Complications are rare.
Should their child develop symptoms of the disease, all they need to do is to consult the doctor and follow the doctor's instructions. They can also help limit the spread of HFMD by being alert and refraining from sending their children to a childcare centre when diagnosed with HFMD.