The Ministry of Health-St. Kitts has informed the nation that there is a Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) outbreak affecting the early childhood sector. A press release mentioned that “the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education have been in dialogue regarding the thorough cleaning and sanitization of the affected schools /facilities.”

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a contagious viral illness that primarily affects infants and young children.

Parents, guardians and childcare professionals are urged to be vigilant and aware of the symptoms, which include: fever, sore throat, painful sores, often in the mouth, rash on the hands, feet, and buttocks, loss of appetite, irritability, especially in infants and toddlers.

In addition, the public is advised to adopt strict hygiene practices to minimize the spread of HFMD. “Routine cleaning and sanitization are crucial, and the use of bleach-based cleaning products is strongly recommended for disinfecting surfaces and shared items such as toys and furniture”, the release said.

MOH-St. Kitts ended by saying “together, we can prevent the further spread of this illness and ensure the safety of our communities.”