Press Releases
HFMD Situation In Singapore
10 January 2001
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10 Jan 2001
All the children who were in the cluster of cases admitted to the KK Children's and Women's Hospital following the death of the four-year old boy on 3 January 01, including the sister of the deceased, have recovered. Three new cases of HFMD have been admitted for observation. All three are in a stable condition.
Situation in Singapore
In the first week of this month, there were 126 HFMD reported cases. This is an increase of about 10-12 a day compared to December 00. Of these 126 cases, 96 cases are aged 0-5 years. The HFMD Taskforce is of the view that part of the increase in cases reported last week could be due to heightened awareness among doctors and members of the public.
For the first two days of this week, the Taskforce has also noticed that there was a further increase in the numbers reported - 54 cases on Monday, 8 Jan 01, and 34 cases on Tuesday, 9 Jan 01. While it is premature to conclude whether this signifies the start of a rising trend, the Taskforce has stepped up its monitoring of the situation and surveillance of pre-school centres to ensure that they continue to observe a high level of hygiene and sanitation standards. Doctors have also been reminded again to be vigilant whenever they come across suspected HFMD cases and to keep the Quarantine & Epidemiology Department, Ministry of the Environment (ENV) informed.
The Ministry of Community Development and Sports and the Ministry of Education have also sent reminders to all pre-school centres to immediately notify the Quarantine and Epidemiology Department, ENV, should any of their children contract HFMD. They have also been reminded to isolate any child that is ill, and to immediately contact the child's parents.
Parents are reminded not to send their children to school if they are not well but to seek medical attention and keep their children who are unwell to rest and recover at home.
The Taskforce would like to reiterate that the overall situation remains stable and under control for the time being. There is no cause for alarm, bearing in mind that 126 cases reported for the whole of last week is still significantly below the level of 200 to 300 cases a day reported during the outbreak in Oct 00. The Taskforce will keep the public informed should there be any further developments.