The Department of Health (DOH) said there is currently no outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) but noted that cases are increasing in the country.
DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that from October to Dec. 6, they recorded 155 cases of HFMD in Metro Manila alone. Majority of these cases were among children aged 11 and below.
“We are seeing an increase in cases, pagtiningnan natin (when we look at it) for these past weeks,” said Vergeire in a press briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
“Pero wala pa ho tayong trigger or wala pa tayong (But there is no trigger yet or) enough basis for our local governments to declare outbreaks in their areas. These are all manageable and preventable,” she added.
The DOH defined HFMD as a “a contagious viral infection that commonly affects young children and is characterized by sores in the mouth and rashes on the hands and feet.”
“It is transmitted through droplets or direct contact with nasal discharges, saliva, feces, and fluid from the rashes of an infected individual,” it added.