Health Department Told To Monitor HFMD Situation In States

SEREMBAN (Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia), April 21 (Bernama) -- The Health Department has been instructed to monitor the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) situation in each state and take measures to contain it in the event of an outbreak. This follows a news report of HFMD cases in Johor after a recent outbreak in Sabah and Sarawak, Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said. "We'll look into the number of cases and will order a temporary closure of nurseries and kindergartens if necessary. "At the same time parents should not send their children to kindergartens or nurseries if they show any HFMD symptoms; they should take them to the hospital instead," she told reporters when asked on the report of a HFMD outbreak in Johor. She was met by reporters after launching the national-level Young Doctors Club, here on Saturday. There are 1,392 primary schools nationwide which have set up the club so far, involving 36,000 Year 4 to Year 6 pupils. -- BERNAMA