CHIANG RAI, 10 September 2015 -Nearly a thousand grade school students in Chaing Rai have reportedly come down with hand-foot and mouth-disease.
Chiang Rai Provincial Public Health Office has advised schools to keep their students under surveillance after an outbreak has been reported. The type of virus that has killed some children is believed to be the deadliest strain called enterovirus 71, although other strains are less potent.
Children will become weak quickly after contracting the disease. It could be deadly, if they didn’t receive medical treatment soon enough. Schools and childcare centers have been instructed to keep their places clean. Toys and teaching materials must be disinfected frequently.
Around 500 young children at Mareerak School have had their mouths, hands and feet checked by their teachers in an effort to stop the spread. Those sent home were said to have a fever. Parents have been advised to take their children to hospital for treatment.