Outbreaks of HFMD remain in several Thai areas

BANGKOK, July 30 (TNA) - Outbreaks of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have remained in several Thai areas, with nearly 70 children infected with the disease in the country's lower northern Phichit province alone last week. The HFMD has kept spreading in Phichit due to heavy downpours with colder weather, prompting Phichit Kindergarten, among other schools, to have temporarily closed for one week, until August 6, after 11 children were found infected. There have been nearly 300 patients of the HFMD recorded in Phichit so far this year, with almost 70 children reported with the disease in the province last week alone. Several schools in Kanchanaburi province in Thailand's central region, including longstanding private schools like Chaijit Witthaya School and Mek Banthit Kindergarten, were closed Monday after many children showed suspicious symptoms of the HFMD; while Thetsaban 2 School, where the disease was discovered first in the province and was closed twice as infections had continued among students, launched a big clean-up Monday before reopening Tuesday. Srinakarinwirot University Prasarnmit Demonstration School (Elementary), meanwhile, reopened Monday, but students and visitors were screened and their body temperatures were measured. The school's director, Associated Professor Sukhumal Kasemsuk, announced that the screening measure will be continued throughout this week. (TNA)