Hand Foot and Mouth Disease reported in St. Catherine

The St Catherine Health Department is reporting an outbreak of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease in the parish.

Deputy Chief Public Health Inspector for St Catherine, Denece Douglas says the cases have increased over the last two weeks.

Addressing Thursday's meeting of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation, Ms Douglas said parents and schools have been self-reporting cases of the disease, which are then investigated.

“We have nine confirmed cases reported to the health center between late last week to yesterday,” she revealed, noting that “this would not include what was reported or those cases that went to private institutions.”

She added that several parents and administrators from early childhood institutions had also made reports. 

“I know that for this week alone, we have done about six investigations. Since I came in the meeting, I got two more reports, so I would love to know that we attack the thing from the early stage; don’t await on it until it becomes an outbreak. It is a outbreak. It's an outbreak already,” she stressed.

In Jamaica, cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease typically rise between March and December.

Douglas is encouraging parents and schools to be on the alert as the disease is mostly spread through contact with an infected person's saliva, nasal secretions, and stool, as well as contaminated surfaces:

According to the Ministry of Health & Wellness, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease is a viral illness common in infants and children. Symptoms can include fevers and blister-like eruptions on the tongue, inside the cheek and on the skin. 

Affected persons can also have poor appetite and sore throat. Symptoms in children are usually mild and typically last seven to ten days.