Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health has asked people across the countryto take protective measures against hand, foot, and mouth disease after datafrom the ministry’s General Department of Preventive Medicine showed that over2,100 people had contracted the disease in 57 localities this year.

Nonetheless,the total number of cases is still 38.6 percent lower than in the same periodlast year. Most of the cases were recorded in the south, the department said.In HCM City, more than 30 people fell ill during the Tet (LunarNew Year) holidays.

InHanoi, Nguyen Thien Hai, deputy head of the Vietnam National Hospital ofPediatrics’ Infectious Diseases Department, told the Voice of Vietnam (VoV)online newspaper that the hospital was treating several children with hand,foot, and mouth disease.

Thehead of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, Tran Dac Phu, said thedisease was easily spread, especially in wet weather, and parents and teachersshould keep children away from those who have contracted it to prevent itspreading in schools.

Thedisease typically peaks between March and May, Phu said.

Hand,foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infantsand children younger than five. However, it can sometimes occur in older childrenand adults. There is no vaccine to protect against the virus.

Theministry issued recommendations on how to prevent children from getting thedisease: Wash children’s hands often with soap and water, especially afterchanging diapers and using the toilet; give children cooked food and boiledwater; clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and soiled items,including toys; don’t let children have contact with people suspected of havingor infected with the disease; collect and dump patients’ waste in sanitarylatrine; take your children to the nearest health clinic if symptoms occur.

Inresponse to the recommendations, schools, especially primary schools in HCMCity and Hanoi, sprayed Chloramine B to disinfect classrooms, kitchens andtoys, as well as washing hands with soap and water.

NguyenHoa Binh, 32, of Hanoi’s Thanh Xuan district, said last year, her two-year-olddaughter got the disease and she had to take her daughter to hospital fortreatment.

Thisyear, after hearing warnings from the ministry about the disease, Binh washedher daughter’s hands with soap and water and gave her salt-water mouth rinseseveral times every day, she said.

Hand,foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses that belong to the Enterovirusgenus (group), including polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, andenteroviruses.

Thedisease usually starts with a fever, reduced appetite, sore throat, and a senseof malaise. One or two days after the fever starts, painful sores can developin the mouth. A skin rash with red spots, and sometimes with blisters may alsodevelop over one or two days on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet;it may also appear on the knees, elbows, buttocks or genital area.

Accordingto medical experts, parents should take their children home once symptoms occurand treat children’s waste by using Chloramine B for disinfection. They shouldwear masks and gloves to avoid contact with the waste, doctors said.

Ifchildren show symptoms such as high fever, vomiting or convulsions, parentsshould quickly take them to hospital for treatment to avoid dangerouscomplications. -VNA