KINGSTON, Jamaica – Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has appealed to parents to keep children infected with hand, foot and mouth disease at home for at least seven days, to allow them to fully recover.
Ferguson made the appeal during a joint press briefing with the Ministry of Education at its Heroes Circle office on Friday.
“Schools should also frequently clean and disinfect areas particularly those where young children frequent. We are asking school administrators to make an immediate report to the Medical Officers in their parish or to the parish health department if they suspect that there may be cases of the illness in their school,” he said.
“I want to remind teachers, administrators, parents and guardians that they should also limit person to person contact among infants and young children such as hugging, kissing or sharing utensils especially for affected children,” he added.
The Health Ministry said it has prepared and made available guidelines on managing hand, foot and mouth disease to schools through the Ministry of Education. Information is also available on the ministry’s website at moh.gov.jm. (Observer)
