By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) here has reported 101 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, as of Feb. 18, 2023.
The age range of the cases is between less than 1 year old to 20 years old. Fifty-five were male while 46 were female.
Based on the report of CESU, Barangay Handumanan topped the list with the most number of cases at 20, followed by Barangay Villamonte with 18 cases, and Barangay Vista Alegre with 10 cases.
Other barangays with reported cases include Bata, 6; Banago, Estefania, and Pahanocoy with 5 cases each; Singcang and Alijis with 4 cases each; and Mansilingan, Mandalagan, Taculing, and Tangub with 3 cases each.
Two cases each were also reported in Barangays Felisa and Granada, and one case each in Barangays 2, 13, 34, Montevista, and Sum-ag.
According to Dr. Grace Tan, CESU head, HFMD is a mild and common but highly contagious childhood infection.
Prevention and control of potential outbreaks include hand washing especially after touching an infected person or body fluids, feces, and before eating, keeping an infected child or person at home to avoid transmission, avoiding the sharing of items, and disinfecting surfaces with the use of bleach.
For treatment, supportive management can be applied such as taking Paracetamol for fever and pain, soft but non-spicy and hot foods, and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
The City Health Office (CHO) continues to monitor cases in the community. The Department of Education (DepEd) likewise monitors the clustering of cases in schools and makes necessary measures to control and prevent further spread.
An intensified campaign is being done by healthcare workers across schools, shopping malls, playgrounds, and barangays to encourage individual responsibility and involvement in disease prevention and control.
Early this month, the City Council passed a resolution urging all village chiefs here to intensify the campaign against HFMD.
