THE Bacolod City Council has approved a resolution urging child development centers and primary schools in the city to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).
The resolution, authored by Councilor Em Ang, was approved during the regular session on Wednesday afternoon, July 16.
Ang, chairperson of the City Council committee on health, said the HFMD is a common viral illness that primarily affects infants and children under the age of five.
City Health Office (CHO) records showed that from January to July 5, 2025, Bacolod City had a total of 61 HFMD cases.
Barangay Villamonte topped the list with 10 cases, followed by Barangay Estefania with eight; Barangay Mansilingan with six; Barangays Tangub and Singcang-Airport with five cases each; Barangay Granada with four; Barangays Alijis and Vista Alegre with three cases each; Barangays Banago, Cabug, Mandalagan, and Bata with two cases each.
Ang said HFMD can spread rapidly in schools and childcare settings due to close contact among students.
“Preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of outbreaks and protect the health of students, staff, and faculty,” Ang said.
Ang urged the child development centers and schools to promote hand hygiene, encourage respiratory etiquette, regular cleaning and disinfection, monitor symptoms, and educate students and parents about HFMD prevention and control measures.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, earlier said the HFMD is a common childhood infectious illness caused by the coxsackie virus.
She said it can affect adults and is most contagious in the first week.
Tan added that the signs and symptoms of HFMD include a sore throat, fever, and painful ulcers or blisters in the hands and feet, sometimes the thighs and buttocks.
She said HFMD spreads through direct contact with droplets from coughing or sneezing, touching an infected person, direct contact through kissing, hugging, or sharing utensils, direct contact with an infected person's feces, and also touching infected objects and surfaces. (MAP)