Grand Cayman schools hit byy HFMD

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.caymancompass.com/2018/02/19/grand-cayman-schools-hit-by-disease-outbreak/

Grand Cayman schools hit by disease outbreak
By Mark Muckenfuss -
February 19, 2018


An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease that surfaced a few weeks ago is still affecting some schools on Grand Cayman...

...Tim McLaughlin, an epidemiologist with the Public Health department, said the 14 cases reported from Feb. 4-10 were the most he has seen in a single week. Figures for last week are not yet available, but Mr. McLaughlin said it looked as though the spread of the disease had slowed down. Most children were out of school last week and that may be a factor, he said..

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://caymannewsservice.com/2018/02/officials-try-contain-hand-foot-mouth-outbreak/


Officials try to contain hand, foot and mouth outbreak
Cayman News | 26/02/2018 | 10 Comments

Cayman News Service(CNS): With more than 60 reported cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, the Public Health Department said it is ?working robustly? with relevant partners to monitor, mitigate and contain the outbreak. Normally a summer virus impacting children, this highly infectious disease can also hit adults and there is no vaccine or cure. The symptoms are managed though over-the-counter treatments, and although it generally goes away without any long-term negative impact, it can cause young kids, in particular, to be unwell.

Once the public health team receive a report, the department works closely with schools to assist with containing the spread of the virus. The PHD has a school nurse coordinator who is actively educating each school on hand, foot and mouth disease. The department?s surveillance officer, Timothy McLaughlin-Munroe, is also closely monitoring and collecting data on local cases that have been reported.

Although reporting cases of this disease is not mandatory, in a release Monday alerting the community about the mounting cases, Acting Medical Officer of Health Dr Samuel Williams encouraged all public and private physicians to report every case ?so that we may improve the accuracy of our data and be better equipped to take the required actions to reduce the spread of the virus?...