According to the Department of Prevention and Control (Ministry of Health), from September 27 to October 3, the whole province of Vinh Long recorded 285 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (TCM), a sharp increase compared to previous weeks (182 cases), showing that the epidemic is spreading and becoming more complicated.
Notably, on October 3, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Vinh Long quickly deployed measures to investigate and monitor the hand, foot and mouth outbreak at Hieu Phung Kindergarten, Hieu Phung commune.
According to records, the outbreak occurred at Nhon Ngai school (under Hieu Phung Kindergarten) with 14 children with the disease in 4 classes. In addition, Quang Phu school has 2 cases and Tan Quang school has 2 new cases.
CDC Vinh Long identified the two main outbreaks at Nhon Ngai and Quang Phu locations. Sick children are given at least 10 days off from school and only return to class when they have no canker sores or wheezing.
Nguyen Van Thu Regional Medical Center has directed Hieu Phung Commune Health Station to coordinate with the school to clean classrooms, toys, and items with daily cleaning solutions and with B-chloramine twice a week; and at the same time, disseminate to parents about disease prevention and control measures.
Dr. Ho Thi Thu Hang - Director of Vinh Long Department of Health - said that in the face of the rapid increase in cases, the Department has directed medical units to urgently isolate and thoroughly handle outbreaks in schools, while strengthening disease monitoring in the community, especially in children under 5 years old.
The health sector is not subjective, always ready with drugs, chemicals and human resources for timely control and handling, protecting children's health and the community, Ms. Hang emphasized.
