(FILE PHOTO)
Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said there was no declaration of an outbreak of the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in the National Capital Region after posts circulated online about a possible outbreak in certain areas in the region, particularly in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The DOH recorded 155 cases of HFMD in Metro Manila from October to December, mostly among children aged 11 years old and below.
“Wala po tayong dinedeklarang outbreak para sa hand, foot, and mouth disease. Hindi po siya nangyari nang isahan lang, nangyari siya over a span of two to three months. Dito saNCR (National Capital Region) we are seeing an increase in cases pero wala pang trigger or wala pa tayong enough basis for our local governments to declare outbreaks in their area,” DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Tuesday.
[Translation: We have not declared an outbreak for hand, foot, and mouth disease. It didn’t happen at one time; it happened over a span of two to three months. In NCR, we are seeing an increase in cases but there is no trigger or enough basis for our local governments to declare outbreaks in their area.]
She added that these cases remain manageable and preventable.
The DOH has also received specific reports from Sta. Mesa but the agency said these have to be validated first.
“Ito kasing ‘pag may nagbibigay ng report, hindi namin agad tinatala na official kasi we still validate. Nakikipag-ugnayan ngayon ang aming NCR center for health development dito saSta. Mesa local government unit for us to validate the cases they have reported,” Vergeire explained.
[Translation: We do not immediately declare it official when someone gives a report because we still validate. Our NCR center for health development is coordinating with the local government of Sta. Mesa for us to validate the cases they have reported.]
