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Parliamentary QA

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

24 February 2023

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NOTICE PAPER NO. 1731
NOTICE OF QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
FOR THE SITTING OF PARLIAMENT ON OR AFTER 24 FEBRUARY 2023


Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang
MP for Nee Soon GRC


Question No. 2741

To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will reconsider its policy of not tracking the number or percentage of children who have contracted hand foot and mouth disease and the number of times they have contracted the disease. 


Answer

1       Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is not notifiable to MOH as it is a common childhood illness that is usually mild and self-limiting. Hence, the numbers are not tracked. Nevertheless, we have a sentinel surveillance programme for HFMD involving selected hospitals, polyclinics and GP clinics, to monitor trends in polyclinic attendances, severe cases requiring admission and the types of circulating pathogens.