HFMD: Officials hunting for patient zero
Health officials in KZN say they are trying to trace patient zero, following the rapid spread of the Hand, Foot and Mouth disease in the province.
"What we have been unable to get a sense of is patient zero, because it sometimes helps to be able to pick up where patient zero came from because then we are able to follow the disease and the department has been trying to establish patient zero, but while we have not been able to get there again we speak on the issues of hygiene," says MEC Nomagugu Simelane-Mngadi.
Currently, 195 cases have been confirmed in KZN, with the eThekwini District carrying the bulk at 147.
There are 25 reported infections in King Cetshwayo District, 20 in Ugu and three in uMkhanyakude.
Lenham Primary School in Phoenix, north of Durban, is the most affected school in the province with 89 reported cases.
READ: Foot and Mouth: MEC says premature to close schools
Simelane-Mngadi says they will not be taking a blanket approach in dealing with the outbreak.
"eThekwini for instance is a cluster because we see the infected schools are around one circuit. You find that there are clusters even in other districts. There are rural schools that are affected."
The department has also called for calm amid the outbreak, as officials continue to monitor the situation.
Director for Communicable Diseases in KZN, Babongile Mhlongo, says there's been some confusion about the disease and foot and mouth disease that normally affects hoofed animals.
"It cannot be transmitted from human to animal and vice versa. It is a different disease that is very mild and what makes it a bit different from others are the blisters that are normally found around the mouth, on the side of the tongue, on the palm and underneath the foot which makes it difficult for kids to swallow, hold anything and walk properly."
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
We are also on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter)
