88 Zamboanga schoolchildren being monitored for HFMD

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Up to 88 possible cases of hand, foot and mouth disease or HFMD affecting schoolchildren are being monitored, according to the city health office.

The CHO said it conducted a joint investigation with the Department of Health (DOH)-Zamboanga peninsula after receiving reports that among the cases are pupils of the Putik Elementary School (PES) in Barangay Putik.

Local health officials said that last month, 88 schoolchildren contracted rashes and 18 of them showed symptoms of HFMD.

Laboratory samples have been collected and sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila for confirmation.

Ever Rose Deguia, officer-in-charge of the PES, said there were 113 others who also experienced rashes, but have recovered and returned to school.

The CHO said it has been monitoring the situation after noting an increase in the number of cases in the past two weeks.

HFMD is a notifiable disease as provided under Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

It is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children and characterized by fever, mouth sores and rashes in the hands, feet and buttocks.

The disease spreads through direct contact with infected people, respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces.

Patients should stay home until they recover to prevent the virus from spreading.