MANILA, Philippines — There have been a total of 155 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Vergeire on Tuesday.
According to the World Health Organization, HFMD is a mild disease common among children, with symptoms including fever, sores and rashes.
“Mayroon tayong nakuha dito sa National Capital Region na October to December 6, there were 155 cases of this hand, foot, and mouth disease, and majority of them are children, 11 years old and below,” said Vergeire.
(We have in the National Capital Region, from October to December, there were 155 cases of this hand, foot, and mouth disease and the majority of them were children 11 years old and below).
Vergeire said that this was not enough to declare an outbreak. The NCR cases happened within two to three months, said the OIC.
“We are seeing an increase of cases, if we look at it, for these past weeks of hand, foot, and mouth disease, but there is no trigger, or we do not have enough basis for our local governments to declare outbreaks in their area. These are all manageable and preventable,” said Vergeire in a mix of Filipino and English.
The DOH is also investigating an alleged rise of cases in Santa Mesa in Manila, while Vergeire said their agency has yet to receive reports from Quezon City.
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