KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, CMC – Health authorities Tuesday said there has been an increase, recently, in the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but did not disclose any figures.
Communication Officer in the Ministry of Health, Neeka Anderson-Isaacs, said that in light of the development, the Ministry is advising residents, particularly school administrators and parents, to be cautious in how they deal with the cases to minimise a further outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says HFMD is a common infectious disease of infants and children. It is characterised by fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and also buttocks.
WHO, however, noted that HFMD is not to be confused with foot-and-mouth (also called hoof-and-mouth) disease which is caused by a different virus and affects cattle, sheep, and pigs.