COTABATO CITY—Health officials in Kidapawan City in Cotabato province are alarmed over rising cases of the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) afflicting local children.
Dr. Jose Martin Evangelista, pediatrician at the Kidapawan City health office, told local radio station DXND that as of the end of January, his office had recorded 48 cases from 40 villages. This is a marked increase from only 21 cases for the whole of 2022.
Evangelista suspected that there could be more unreported cases as many parents were unaware that their children were already afflicted with the disease.
HFMD, he said, is highly contagious because the virus can be transmitted through respiratory tract secretions or mucus and saliva, as one coughs or sneezes. It can also be transmitted through close contact with HFMD patients and sharing of kitchen utensils.
“This is very contagious, especially during the first week of illness,” Evangelista said, noting that children age 5 and below are most vulnerable to the disease.
The common signs of the disease are rashes in the patient’s hand, foot and mouth, cough and fever.
Evangelista assured that public that his office was working to contain the outbreak, as the city health office started a massive information campaign, especially in schools, to promote preventive measures against HFMD.
He said areas hardest hit by the disease outbreak are the villages of Poblacion, Singao, Magsaysay, Macebolig, Amas, Perez, Lanao and Indangan.
In Banga, South Cotabato, at least 51 children were reported to be ill with HFMD but health officials now said the spread of the disease had been contained.