No need to keep kids with HFMD-infected siblings from school

MOH's Reply

No need to keep kids with HFMD-infected siblings from school

We thank Mr Nicholas Tee for his letter (Keep children with HFMD-infected siblings away from school, July 18).

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) work closely to monitor cases of infectious diseases in preschools, including Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).

Preventive measures are in place in preschools to minimise the transmission of HFMD and other infectious diseases, and preschools are required to follow guidelines for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. These include daily health and temperature checks of children upon arrival at preschools, ensuring appropriate handwashing by staff and children, and designated sick-bays for unwell children to rest while waiting to be brought home.

HFMD is a common childhood infection that is generally mild and most children can recover on their own without treatment. Unlike highly-severe infectious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), requiring contacts of HFMD who are well with no symptoms to stay away from school or work and self-quarantine at home is not required.

Siblings of children diagnosed with HFMD but who remain well with no symptoms may continue to attend preschool as they are less likely to transmit HFMD to others. This approach is similar to how other infectious diseases such as influenza or viral gastroenteritis are managed. The key to minimising the spread of such diseases is for individuals who are unwell to stay away from work, school or crowded places. We appeal to parents whose children are unwell to keep them at home, so that they do not spread their illness.

It is also important for all of us to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. This includes practices such as washing hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet; covering one’s mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throwing the tissue away into a bin immediately; not sharing food, toothbrushes or towels; and disinfecting articles such as toys or appliances contaminated by oral or nasal secretions.

Vernon Lee (Associate Professor)
Director, Communicable Diseases Division
Ministry of Health

Bernadette Alexander
Director, Regulation & Standards
Early Childhood Development Agency

Forum Letter

The Straits Times, 22 July 2019

Keep children with HFMD-infected siblings away from school

As a parent of two young children, I fully support the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and the Ministry of Health's (MOH) stringent policies on managing infectious diseases like the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

The policies include forced closure of schools which have an excessive number of HFMD cases.

But I was surprised when my son's childcare centre informed me that ECDA and MOH do not have procedures on the handling of children whose siblings have HFMD.

In fact, both ECDA and MOH have stated that it is all right for children with HFMD-afflicted siblings to attend school as long as they do not show any symptoms of the illness.

But a child infected with HFMD is contagious throughout the duration of the illness, even before exhibiting symptoms. This puts other children in school at risk.

Children with siblings who have HFMD should be treated as if they are also carriers of the virus.

ECDA and MOH should review the current policy and make changes to safeguard the health of the children.

Nicholas Tee