Sarawak steps up checks to curb HFM outbreak

Star: MIRI: In the biggest exercise of its kind, the health authorities in Sarawak have sent out 119 mobile medical surveillance teams to contain the spread of the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease.
The State Health and Medical Services Department has ordered the teams to be thorough in checking for HFM cases, as well as to check the hygiene and cleanliness of places frequented by the public.
Up to noon yesterday, 3,269 cases had been reported, an increase of 182 cases in just a day, and 41 people hospitalised.
The teams are to penetrate all corners of the state, especially areas in Sibu, Kuching, Bintulu and Miri, which have been badly hit by the virus.
It is learnt that the department received the directive from the Health Ministry to send out the teams following an urgent request from Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, who is State Disaster Relief Committee chairman.
They have been instructed to send daily updates.
“These daily updates will be able to detect accurately which areas still have high rates of infections and which areas have shown improvement, and what additional measures need to be implemented,” said a senior department officer.
It is also learnt that health inspectors have been directed to ensure that no kindergarten or child day care centre defies the ministry’s directive to shut down for two weeks.
More than 3,000 children have been affected and four have died.
“This is a very serious exercise, and we are confident that we can bring down the number of cases very soon through these strict measures,” he said during a joint press conference with Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek on Tuesday here.
Some people have called for stricter surveillance to ensure that the virus does not spread.
They suggested that medical personnel be stationed at airports, jetties, and land entry and exit points at the border to monitor the health of those travelling in and out of the state to detect possible HFM carriers.
However, a doctor here said this might not be very useful.
“It is possible for carriers to show no symptoms until after a few days,” he said.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at the Miri Hospital children’s ward where HFM patients are warded, to ensure that unauthorized personnel do not come into contact with the infected kids there.