Cases of Hand Foot and Mouth disease on the rise in Delhi; one school sanitises classrooms, another issues advisory
The disease, which usually affects children between the ages of 3 and 7 – has symptoms such as fever, rashes, mouth sores, and general discomfort.
R.S. Junior Modern School issued a formal circular to parents on Wednesday, saying teaching for one class will be done virtually on Thursday and Friday, with classrooms being sanitised and washroom staff changed.
'We would like to bring to your attention that cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) are still being reported in the school. While we are taking all necessary precautions in school, we seek your support in helping us control its spread,' the circular read. It also asked parents to monitor their children for symptoms such as fever, red rashes on hands and feet, sore throat, or irritability, and to seek medical attention if needed. 'Do not send your child to school and inform the school immediately,' it warned.
A parent of a Class 1 girl at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya (SPV), Lodi Road, said his daughter was diagnosed with HFMD in mid-July after she developed a fever and painful ulcers in her mouth. 'My daughter recovered but she missed classes. There is no formal advisory or awareness raised in schools on this,' he said. 'Our main concern is that some schools are closed, some are not?'
He had initially ignored a message circulated in July in a parent group of R.S. Junior Modern School, Humayun Road, which read: 'Just a quick heads-up…there have been a few cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) going around recently. It spreads pretty easily among kids, especially in close contact settings like school or playdates.' It was only after his daughter fell ill that he realised she had also contracted the disease.
While localised action is visible in some school campuses, many are yet to report any major rise in HFMD cases. Sudha Acharya, principal of ITL Public School and head of the CBSE Sahodaya Schools cluster in Southwest Delhi, said that no such cases have been reported so far from the 50 schools in the Dwarka region, nor any reports from major schools. However, she warned that monsoon illnesses are always a concern during this time of the year.
'We have issued a monsoon advisory and another one on dengue. We've conducted fumigation and asked students to wear waterproof and non-slippery footwear, carry raincoats, and drink safe water,' Acharya said. She noted that students have been reaching home late due to waterlogging in recent days. 'Some children reached home as late as 7:30 p.m. recently. We sent snacks and sandwiches for students who were stuck. The season causes huge distress, and we have cautioned students to be ready,' she added.
Dr Vibhu Kawatra, paediatric pulmonologist, and allergy specialist said he is getting 5-6 cases of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease every day for the last one week.
He said breaking the cycle is the only way out to stop the virus spreading further. 'If it happens to one child it spreads because it is contagious,' said Dr Kawatra, who works in a hospital in Malviya Nagar.
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