Debated in Parliament on 11 May 2021.
Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what is (i) the current number of cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) (ii) the number of pre-schools ascertained to have active clusters of prolonged transmission of HFMD and (iii) the number of pre-school closures on an annual basis over the last five years, including year-to-date; and (b) how does the Ministry make the determination for centre closures to break the cycle of transmission.
The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and MOH work closely to monitor cases of infectious diseases in pre-schools, including HFMD. Pre-schools are required to inform ECDA and MOH promptly of any clusters of infectious diseases, including HFMD. In the last week of 23 to 29 April 2021, 78 cases of HFMD were reported. As of 29 April 2021, there were six clusters of more prolonged transmission of HFMD in pre-schools being closely monitored.
HFMD is a common childhood infection that is generally mild and most children can recover on their own without treatment. In general, MOH has assessed that the closure of pre-schools affected by HFMD has a limited effect on containing the spread of HFMD as the virus is present in the community and can be reintroduced once the pre-school reopens. Instead, early detection and isolation of cases, as well as maintenance of good personal and environmental hygiene in the pre-school, home and community, are key to minimising the risk of transmission and, hence, the risk of large HFMD outbreaks.
Preventive measures are in place in pre-schools to minimise the transmission of HFMD and other infectious diseases, and pre-schools 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 pre-schools, ensuring good personal hygiene practices by staff and children and maintaining good environmental hygiene, such as wiping down and disinfecting high-touch areas. Parents are strongly advised to inform the centre as soon as possible when their child is unwell, and to keep children who are unwell away from the pre-school until they have fully recovered, to mitigate the spread of HFMD.
ECDA and MOH monitor the incidence of HFMD cases in pre-schools closely and assess the need for additional follow-up measures to be taken for each outbreak. If warranted, pre-school closures may be mandated on a case-by-case basis and this is dependent on, but not limited to, the severity of the HFMD cases, the circulating strain of virus, and the disease transmission dynamics. In the last five years, that is, 2016 to 2020, ECDA, in consultation with MOH, has mandated the temporary closure of two pre-schools due to HFMD. Apart from temporary closures, ECDA can also take other regulatory actions, for example, financial penalties, against pre-schools that are found to have breached requirements relating to the prevention of infectious diseases, including HFMD.
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