Facade of the DOH main office in Manila. INQUIRER.net file photo
LEGAZPI CITY — Health authorities on Thursday (Nov. 10) advised the public to practice good hygiene after 327 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) were noted in the whole Bicol region since January.
According to Ma. Francia Genorga, coordinator for the infectious disease cluster of the DOH-Center for Health Development in Bicol, 257 of these cases were monitored in children in various communities.
She said 70 other cases were logged in sentinel hospitals.
HFMD is a common infectious disease among children and is caused by a group of enteroviruses, including Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).
Among the symptoms are fever that may last 24 to 48 hours, painful mouth sores and rashes and blisters on the hands, feet and buttocks.
The HFMD cases in Bicol were registered from Jan. 1 to Nov. 5 when the COVID-10 restrictions were eased and children were allowed to attend in-person classes.
Sorsogon province recorded the highest cases with 255.
The other cases were traced to Masbate (47), Catanduanes (10), Albay (8) Camarines Sur (4) and Camarines Sur (3).
Genorga said the patients had already recovered from the disease.
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