21 May 2008
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 21) advised a primary school affected by Hand-Foot-Mouth Diseases (HFMD) to suspend classes for junior students for two weeks as a new case was reported despite enhancement of infection control measures.
The school involved is W F Joseph Lee Primary School in Yuen Long. Six Primary One students of the school developed symptoms of HFMD between May 8 and 16. Of them, a seven-year-old girl was confirmed to have infected with Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) on May 17. All of these students are now in stable condition.
CHP staff visited the school on May 16 and the management had stepped up cleansing measures. However, a new case of HFMD involving another Primary One female student aged seven was detected on May 20. The girl is in stable condition.
A CHP spokesman said that in view of emergence of a new case after infection control measures were enhanced and that there were mixing activities for Primary One and Two classes in the school, CHP advised the school to have class suspension for students of these two grades for two weeks from tomorrow to June 4 for thorough disinfection.
"This is a measure to prevent further spreading of the diseases in the school.
"CHP will closely monitor the situation. Parents are advised to pay attention to the health condition of their children, and to remind them to observe good personal and environmental hygiene."
For more information on HFMD and EV-71, people may visit the CHP's website (
http://www.chp.gov.hk
) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.