More suspected cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in San Pascual, Batangas detected

More than 40 more suspected cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) were detected in San Pascual, Batangas in the past few days, the municipal health office said.

This was an increase over the 109 suspected cases of HFMD as of October 18, according to a report by Andrew Bernardo of GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog on 24 Oras on Saturday.

"Suspected — ito po 'yung pumapasok sa case definition po ng hand, foot, and mouth disease na may fever, rashes po sa katawan, and mouth sores," San Pascual municipal health officer Dr. Joan Stephanie Matira said.

(Suspected — these fall under the case definition of hand, foot, and mouth disease with fever, rashes in the body, and mouth sores.)

"Mayroon nga po kaming sinend na random sampling sa ating RITM. Kapag 'yun po ay nag-positive, maaari po kaming magsabi na mayroon po talagang confirmed case," she added.

(We already sent random samples to Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. If these test positive, then we can say that we have confirmed cases of HFMD.)

Schools were disinfected and cleaned thoroughly following the detection of more HFMD suspected cases in San Pascual.

Among these schools is Sambat Elementary School which had the most number of suspected cases. Classrooms, corridors, and surroundings were disinfected and thoroughly cleaned, according to a school official.

Students in Grades 1 to 3 at Sambat Elementary School had modular lessons instead since the HFMD suspected cases were recorded in their grade levels.

The local government unit is studying if face-to-face classes will fully resume on Monday.

According to the Department of Health - Calabarzon (DOH Calabarzon), 91 cases of HFMD were recorded in Batangas — 49 in San Pascual and 42 in Batangas City.

"[That is a] clinical diagnosis already kahit walang laboratory testing," Dr. Voltaire Guadalupe of the Regional DRRM-H DOH Calabarzon said.

Meanwhile in Batangas City, there are four confirmed HFMD cases, 76 suspected, and 117 under monitoring, according to the Batangas City Public Information Office.

Disinfection of schools in Batangas City is ongoing.

Meanwhile, in the municipality of Alitagtag in Batangas, classes at the Alitagtag Central School, Muzon Elementary School, and Ping-as Coral Elementary School were canceled on Friday, October 21, to give way to disinfection of classrooms and surroundings.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), HFMD is caused by a virus from the enterovirus family.

The DOH said symptoms of HFMD are fever, cough, cold, and lesions in mouth, hand, and feet. 

HFMD is usually not serious but may lead to complication.

The virus causing HFMD may be transmitted via person-to-person contact, respiratory droplets, and contact with a contaminated item, according to the US CDC.

HFMD was also observed to spread fast in daycare centers and schools.

Handwashing, having clean surroundings, disinfection, and avoiding contact with infected persons are ways to prevent contracting HFMD.

Health authorities said those with HFMD may recover at home. It is important that infected persons get to drink enough liquids to stay hydrated. 

HFMD cases were also detected earlier in the municipality of Cuenca in Batangas. —KG, GMA News