KZN health dept warns against spreading misinformation after hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak
KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi (left) conducted a surprise inspection at the Wentworth Hospital in the south of Durban on 13 February 2025, following reports of a shortage in chronic medication at some hospitals in the province. Picture: Nhlanhla Mabaso/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - The KwaZulu-Natal Health Department is warning the public against spreading misinformation related to hand, foot and mouth disease in the province.
This comes after a recent outbreak of the disease in the province affecting four districts.
READ: Hand, foot and mouth disease cases spike in KZN
KZN health MEC Nomagugu Simelane addressed the media at Lenham Primary School in Phoenix on Tuesday, citing the two diseases are different and not transmissible between humans and animals.
"I did get a sense that the community is now becoming agitated which we understand which is why we had to explain the difference and it was clearly indicated that it is not cross-transmissible."
Simelane said schools will remain open despite this outbreak.