Chua: Keep children at home

Star: BATU PAHAT: Keep your children at home and make sure your house is clean, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek advises parents in Sarawak, saying that this could help contain the spread of the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease that has already taken four young lives in the state this year.
On Friday, the minister announced that all 488 kindergartens in Sarawak would be closed for two weeks to stop the spread of HFM.
The decision was made as 942 cases of children infected by the disease had been reported between Jan 1 and Feb 18, compared with just 270 cases in the corresponding period last year.
“Sarawak is a very big place and without the closure (of the kindergartens), monitoring efforts will not be effective.
“This step is made in the interest of the people and the children. I hope parents and teachers will give their full support and co-operation in this matter,” Dr Chua told reporters after launching the Hill View Loft luxury condominiums in Kampung Istana here yesterday.
He said if all precautionary and preventive measures were taken – under the condition that the affected children must not go out but stay at home – the disease could be contained in two weeks.
Meanwhile, Dr Chua said two men, aged 27 and 36, suspected of having bird flu were warded at the isolation ward of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital on Friday.
However, the two patients, who were involved in bird culling in Gombak, tested negative.
Dr Chua said 19 people had been admitted so far but none of them tested positive for the H5N1 virus.