THERE is a notable rise in the number of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Central Visayas in the first nine months of 2023, according to an epidemiologist from the Department of Health (DOH) 7 on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal, regional epidemiologist at the DOH 7-Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, reported that as of September this year, the region had seen 3,118 cases of HFMD. The data recorded from January to September was already seven times the 438 cases recorded in the entire 2022.
Cañal said during a media forum on Tuesday that the increasing trend of HFMD cases can be attributed to the lifting of community restrictions implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic and the return of outdoor activities to normal.
She urged parents and guardians to be vigilant about their children’s activities, especially with the approaching holidays and Christmas parties, as HFMD can spread through saliva and direct skin contact.
HFMD is a contagious viral infection that causes a rash on a child’s hands and feet, along with painful sores in their mouth. This disease primarily affects school-aged children, as well as babies and children younger than five years old.
Upward trend
Cañal reported 3,118 HFMD cases in the region from January to Sept. 30, with 433 cases in recent months.
Of these cases, 1,291 are in Cebu; 1,032, Bohol; 507, Negros Oriental; and 288, Siquijor.
Cañal said most cases this year occurred between February and April, and they have observed an upward trend since August, surpassing last year’s recorded cases.
Although she did not disclose the exact number, a March 2023 SunStar report stated that there was a total of 438 HFMD cases recorded in Central Visayas for the entire 2022.
Cañal said HFMD rashes are blister-like and liquid-filled, unlike the flat red appearance seen in dengue. These rashes are sometimes confused with chickenpox, but HFMD’s fever subsides after a day or two, whereas chickenpox fever lingers for three to five days.
The epidemiologist also said HFMD cannot be contracted from animals, and while it is not fatal, it is highly contagious and spreads through saliva and direct skin contact.
“It can be transmitted through direct contact, meaning you can get infected if someone sneezes or coughs droplets, and it can also be transmitted through contact with secretions like drooling, saliva, or mucus,” she said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
Preventive measures
To prevent the spread of the disease, Cañal urged teachers to report ill students to the nearest health facility.
She recommended thorough handwashing with soap and water, disinfecting dirty items with alcohol, and, most importantly, avoiding contact with infected individuals.
Parents were advised to pay extra attention to their children, especially with upcoming children’s parties during the Christmas season.
Cañal said it is crucial to maintain cleanliness and sanitation, particularly after touching surfaces where the virus may be present.
No vaccine
Cañal said HFMD is caused by a self-limiting virus called coxsackievirus A16, which is usually mild and resolves on its own within five days.
Since there is no vaccine available for this disease, following sanitary and preventive measures is essential.
Cañal, however, cautioned about a more dangerous strain of the virus, coxsackievirus A16, which can lead to severe cases with potential brain inflammation, known as encephalitis.
Encephalitis is characterized by brain swelling and can result in symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, mental confusion, and seizures.
She said that while encephalitis is very rare, there have been no recorded cases of it in the region.