Cabinet welcomes quick response by health officials in dealing with HMFD outbreak
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that school heads needed to work with the Department of Health to keep a close eye on the outbreak.
FILE: Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni at a Cabinet briefing in Parliament. GCIS/Elmond Jiyane
JOHANNEBURG - Cabinet has welcomed what it describes as the quick response by health officials to deal with the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HMFD) outbreak.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that school heads needed to work with the Department of Health to keep a close eye on the outbreak.
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She briefed the media on the outcomes of the Cabinet meeting that was held on Thursday.
Eastern Cape has confirmed 13 cases of the disease, which presents itself with flu-like symptoms, while the number of confirmed cases in KwaZulu-Natal is sitting at 373.
Ntshavheni confirmed that most of the cases were recorded amongst school-going children.
"A number of cases of extremely contagious viral infections were detected in several primary schools and daycare centres in the two provinces. School principals are urged to conduct daily assessments in their schools to detect and report HFMD cases, as guided by the Department of Health."