Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro on Tuesday asked the Department of Health (DOH) for help in containing the outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) among schoolchildren in several barangays in San Pascual, Batangas.
“Kami ay nanawagan kay Department of Health OIC Secretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire na bigyang pansin ang outbreak na ito. Alamin sana ng DOH ang pinagmulan nito. Sana ay makatulong sila upang agad itong masawata. Ito ay upang hindi na kumalat sa iba pang mga bayan at mapagpatuloy na ang naudlot na naman na pag-aaral sa mga eskuwela (We are calling on DOH Officer-in-Charge Vergeire to look into this outbreak. We hope the DOH would find the source of the outbreak and help in immediately stopping it. This is to prevent it from spreading to other towns so that classes will not be again disrupted),” Luistro said in a statement sent to media.
The neophyte lawmaker made the call after around 100 children in San Pascual town got infected with HFMD.
Due to the outbreak, San Pascual Mayor Antonio Dimayuga issued an executive order declaring the suspension of classes from Oct. 18 to 21 for children going to Day Care up to Grade 3 in the eight barangays severely affected by the outbreak.
Luistro noted that HFMD might not be as severe as Covid-19, but the disease is highly contagious – as seen in San Pascual where the cases ballooned in just a few days – and may cause complications that can even result to death.
HFMD is an infectious disease common among children, and generally spread through direct contact with secretions, such as saliva, from infected persons. Its symptoms include fever, painful sores in the mouth, rash and blisters in hands, feet and buttocks. In very rare cases though, complications such as viral meningitis, encephalitis and paralysis may occur.
In the meantime, Luistro said his office had already sent assistance to the families of the infected children while waiting for actions from the DOH.
“Lalo na sa mga panahong ito, napakabigat ang magkaroon ng panibagong dagok na nangangahulugan ng karagdagdang gastusin at pasakit. Kaya ang aming tanggapan ay agad na nagparating ng tulong sa mga pamilya ng mga nagkasakit (Especially during these times, it is a big blow to be hit with additional burdens and expenses. That’s why our office immediately sent assistance to the affected families),” Luistro said.
Source: Philippines News Agency