The Provincial Health Office is continuing to monitor the Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) situation in Negros Occidental and is still not ready to declare an outbreak, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said Thursday, February 16.
A Department of Health (DOH) report released this week shows that Negros Occidental is a far second in terms of HFMD cases compared to Iloilo province.
The DOH report covering January 1 to February 4 shows Negros Occidental with 331 cases while Iloilo province has 1,132.
Bacolod City had 32 HFMD cases, it added.
Lacson said the PHO is saying that the HFMD cases in Negros Occidental are not concentrated in specific areas.
The HFMD situation in Negros Occidental has not reached a point where we can already declare an outbreak, Lacson said.
He said school officials should observe students for signs of HFMD based on their appearance. If the children manifest HFMD symptoms the school officials should advise their parents to have them isolated at home, Lacson said.
HFMD is a common infection in children that causes sores called ulcers inside or around their mouth and a rash or blisters on their hands, feet, legs, or buttocks.*