Parents have stopped their children from attending a pre-school in Bloemfontein after it was found on Thursday, August 22 that some of the children have hand, foot and mouth disease.  

One of the parents, Neo Lemaoana, says she got worried when her four-year-old told her there were many children suffering from itching at her school. According to the World Health Organisation, the disease mainly affects children, but adults can also get infected.  

“My daughter told me her friends were sick and their parents fetched them from school. Then, being a nurse, I called the matron of the school to notify the department about the cases,” she says.

Symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, painful sores or blisters in the mouth, rash on the hands, feet and sometimes buttocks. 

Another parent, who asked not to be named to protect her child, says her five-year-old son’s face was turning red. “When I got a call that my child was sick I left my work in a hurry. I found the department’s vehicle at the school and I was praying that my child would recover from this sickness. I thought it was mpox,” she says.

The provincial Department of Health confirmed the outbreak in a statement on Friday. According to the statement the hand, foot and mouth disease cases have only been found in one preschool. 

“The Free State Department of Health, has noted the suspected outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease at Fichardt Park Kleuterskool Day Care in Bloemfontein. This is a viral illness that affects children under the age of 5.”

The department warns of the disease’s contagiousness. 

“It’s a highly contagious disease and can be spread through close contact with infected persons, saliva, and faeces. Measures to avoid being infected include washing hands and staying far from infected persons and ensuring children are adequately hydrated. Usually the disease disappears after a week unless in cases of complications. Those with suspected symptoms are advised to seek medical attention.”

It says further investigations will be done in various creches and preschools. 

“The Department has activated the Mangaung Metro Health District Outbreak Response Team for surveillance, tracking and tracing of the affected children.” – Health-e News