GEORGE TOWN: Three schools which were ordered to be closed following the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) involved students from Standard 1 to 3.
The 10-day closure was in line with the directive by the state Health Department to make way for cleaning works at the schools reported with HFMD in order to prevent spread of the disease.
State Education Department director Mohd Jamil Mohamed said that based on the reports received, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Sam Sun was fully closed after three students were found to be infected with the disease.
At SJKC Phor Tay initially only six classes were closed involving students from Standard 1 to 3 but now has been fully closed since yesterday.
He said this was due to the 11 reported cases at SJKC Phor Tay.
Two other schools - SJKC Shih Chung with six cases affected and International Tenby School - have also been closed since Tuesday.
“However the school sessions will not be replaced. It depends on the teachers and the students to ensure that the syllabus are completed within the school term,” he said.
Meanwhile, State Health Department director Dr Wan Mansor Hamzah said the department was still inspecting SJKC Chung San and had placed it under a state of alert following the HFMD outbreak.
As of today, a total of 1,679 HFMD cases have been reported in Penang since January and a child was admitted to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment.
“This makes two children at the hospital there while another two are at Penang Hospital.
“Sixty-five premises have been closed since January including 13 nurseries, four schools, two kindergartens and one child care centre for 10 days for cleaning works following the HFMD cases reported there,” he said.
HFMD is a contagious disease caused by viruses in particular Coxsackie A16 and Enterovirus 71 (EV71) which spread through contact with saliva, blister fluid or faeces.
The symptoms of infection include fever, rash (maculopapular and vesicles) in the palms, feet and ulcers in the mouth and tongue, as well as symptoms and signs of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI).
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