Extra funds for fighting HFMD in Sarawak

NST: KUCHING: The Health Ministry has approved an additional RM667,250 for fighting the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Sarawak.
This is on top of the RM1.36 million already approved early this year at the start of the outbreak.
"The extra fund will be used to purchase additional medical equipment such as syringes, infusion pumps and pulse oxymeters and cardiac monitors for the various hospitals in the State," the Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said yesterday.
Thirteen children have died of HFMD, including seven who were tested positive for the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71).
Lee said although the outbreak appeared to be waning, the continued presence of human EV71 in the community was still a cause for concern and continuing vigilance.
"Therefore, the Health Department is continuing with the activities to contain the outbreak," he said.
He added that the number of HFMD cases was showing a downward trend, from 430 cases reported in the July 23 to 29 period to 326 cases from July 30 to Aug 5, and down to 310 for the Aug 6 to 12 period.
Lee said a total of 198 cases were reported from Aug 13 to 16.
He reminded parents to monitor the health of their children and impose self-quarantine at home if they were ill.
"This means that they should keep their children at home and not send them to schools, kindergartens or take them to public gatherings if they are not well."
Meanwhile, seven kindergartens in Miri and another in Sri Aman were ordered closed due to HFMD outbreak for two weeks, beginning yesterday.
This brings the total number of childcare centres and pre-schools ordered closed to 25 since last month.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan said yesterday that 37 new cases of HFMD were reported in Sarawak as at 10am yesterday.
He said 15 were in Miri while Bintulu had eight cases, Kuching (6), Sri Aman (3), Sibu (3) and the rest in other towns.