Surveillance and Rapid Response Team volunteers were trained on the symptoms of, and methods to prevent, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease.
Kanrapa Mukdasanit, director of Health Department’s Disease Control Office, and nurse Naanya Jantrakad briefed the 100 community watchdogs July 11 on the virus that principally strikes children.
They were joined by lecturers from the Banglamung Public Health Department who described methods of checking for the illness and prevent it from spreading.
They also discussed causes of mass cases of diarrhea, primarily through contaminated food or water.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old. However, it can sometimes occur in adults. Symptoms include fever, blister-like sores in the mouth, and a skin rash.
The disease is caused by viruses that belong to the Enterovirus group, which includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and enteroviruses.
A serious nationwide outbreak in Thailand killed two and infected more than 17,000 in 2012. Smaller outbreaks have occurred every year since, most recently caused by Enterovirus 71.
Naanya talked about other diseases, including flu, which can spread quickly in crowded environments.
She said HFMD can be prevented most easily by ensuring that children’s playthings and recreation areas are kept clean and washed with anti-bacterial soap.
