“HFM” DISEASE HITS KIDAPAWAN, SOCOT TOWN

By Edwin O. Fernandez

A Kidapawan City health official has raised the alarm bell over rising cases of the highly contagious Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) while a disaster official said the virus that hit Banga town has slowly been contained.

The municipal disaster office said 51 patients were confirmed to have the HFMD, mostly children in 15 of 22 villages in the town of Banga.

“In 2022, we only monitored about 21 cases but in January alone this year, Kidapawan City has 48 cases in 40 villages, and probably this is under-reported,” Dr. Jose Martin M. Evangelista, Pediatrician ng City Health Office told DXND Radyo Bida. He said the virus usually hit 5 years old and below, especially the one year old and below.

Evangelista said efforts from the city health office and the local government are under to contain the spread of the disease.

In Banga, Joseph Franco, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the HFMD was confirmed in the village of Rizal Poblacion, Parreo Street, Barrio 9 and Punong Grande.

“Since most of the patients were children and coming from one or two schools, we already conducted disinfection in at least two elementary schools,” Franco told DXOM Radyo Bida in Koronadal.

“All the children who have been diagnosed with the disease are now on a 10-day isolation in their respective homes,” Franco said.

He said parents have confirmed that their children first complained of sore throat, fever and show wounds around the mouth, in their hands and feet.

“We thought it was it was a case