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Published on September 13, 2007

Declining to reveal the names of the two schools and the number of affected students, BMA Health Department director Sithisat Triumwongphaet said that when three or four students in a classroom catch HFMD then the class must be shut down - which was the case at the two schools.

They also had BMA disease control officials disinfect the classrooms, Sithisat said. He urged schools to uphold strict hygiene practices, ensure toilets were clean and to immediately separate infected students from other children.

HFMD, caused by enteroviruses, is commonly found among children under five, particularly in the rainy season. HFMD - characterised by mild fever, poor appetite, mouth sores, and a rash with blisters - is spread from person to person by direct contact. A person is most contagious during the first week of illness.

 The Nation