HFMD affects thousands of kids
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Disease Control Department yesterday revealed that 34,834 children had suffered hand, foot and mouth disease between January 1 and July 20 but there was no serious outbreak or deaths.

The department's chief Dr Sophon Mekthon warned that the disease would still be an issue until next month, especially when children mingled with other kids at school and during the rainy season - with the most-at-risk group one to three-year-olds.

The provinces with the highest HFMD prevalence per 100,000 people are Trat (179.54), Rayong (165.33), Chiang Rai (120.51), Prachuap Khiri Khan (101.38) and Chanthaburi (99.95).

Following talk that some Bangkok schools had closed temporarily due to HFMD outbreaks, The Nation learn from a public relations official at Neeracha Suksak School that some kindergarteners had suffered HFMD and the school closed last week to disinfect the premises.

Classes will resume tomorrow, the official said.

Bangchan School (Pluam Witthaya Nusorn) deputy director Woraphot Inthawee said three students at the facility were diagnosed with HFMD but each case occurred days apart so there was no need to close the school.

The three pupils had fully recovered and returned to class while classrooms were cleaned as a precaution, Woraphot said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/HFMD-affects-thousands-of-kids-30239696.html


-- The Nation 2014-07-29

"The three pupils had fully recovered and returned to class while classrooms were cleaned as a precaution, Woraphot said."

Disinfecting one classroom will have minimal effect if the children return to unsanitary environments. it appears that very little is being done as far as preventing the passing on of illnesses by way of sharing glasses at water dispensers. I continue to see numerous people sharing the one available metal cup when consuming water. I am sure this practice is also common in the schools.

I also have witnessed people who have just paid a visit to the local hospital (the bandage on the arm where blood was drawn was still visible, and they were all coughing up a storm) come to a food festival and take a glass from the rack, drink their water, and place it back in the rack, instead of putting it in a tub with soapy water that was provided near the water dispenser (Not that there is a guarantee that the washing would be adequate to sanitize the glasses). I would guess that other food utensils also share this same lack of sanitation.

There appears to be a total lack of understanding among some, although not the vast majority of people in Thailand, especially in the more remote areas, about sanitary practices. Education is a partial solution and there is no way the health department can monitor even a small proportion of the population. Unfortunately, it only takes one person to spread disease among a larger population. As strange as it sounds, perhaps the most sanitary environment for children to consume drinks might be at a 7-11. However, that creates a whole new set of problems.

Nearly 35,000 children have contracted this disease over the last six months..........."but there was no serious outbreak"!

Thainess, I suppose....................

35,000 children affected by this disease, and its not a serious outbreak !!

Authorities - Get a grip on disease control and prevention before you have an outbreak of something you cannot possibly control.

35 000 on 40 million children is not an outbreak ,

its only 35 000 sick children ......