Preventing hand, foot, and mouth disease

- Given the complex developments of the hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak, with a tendency for the number of cases to increase, disease prevention and control in educational institutions and communities is becoming a top priority. Observations in Lang Son show that outbreaks have appeared in schools, requiring decisive intervention measures to protect the health of young children.

Preventing hand, foot, and mouth disease requires cooperation between schools and families.

According to the Department of Disease Prevention and Control, as of early April 2026, there were approximately over 26,000 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease nationwide, including 8 deaths. The majority of patients were children under 10 years old, accounting for over 99%.

In Lang Son province, from the beginning of the year to April 12, 2026, a total of 106 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease have been recorded. The disease is no longer occurring sporadically but is beginning to form clusters of cases concentrated in school environments. Specifically, authorities have detected 4 outbreaks, of which 2 outbreaks in Khang Chien commune with 27 cases and Chien Thang commune with 5 cases have been contained; the remaining 2 outbreaks are new outbreaks at Tan Tien commune Kindergarten and Primary School with 7 cases. In addition, individual cases have also been detected in many areas such as Hong Phong, Quoc Viet, Ky Lua, Loc Binh, Yen Phuc, Yen Binh, Tuan Son, etc.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a contagious disease transmitted through the digestive tract and contact. School environments, especially preschools – where children are concentrated and frequently share toys and utensils – are prime locations for transmission chains. Early detection and timely isolation of infected children at school are crucial to breaking the chain of transmission and preventing the disease from spreading to the community.

To proactively control the disease outbreak, the health sector recommends implementing the following measures:

Personal and environmental hygiene: Practice frequent handwashing with soap for both children and caregivers. Schools should maintain daily disinfection of toy surfaces, floors, and learning materials using common detergents or disinfectant solutions.

Monitoring children's health: Parents and teachers should pay attention to typical signs such as fever, mouth ulcers, and blisters on the palms and soles of the feet. If a child shows signs of startling, unsteadiness while walking, or a high fever that is difficult to bring down, they should be taken to a medical facility immediately to avoid complications.

Isolation of the source of infection: Children with the illness must stay home from school and isolate themselves for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms. Educational institutions that record cases must immediately report to the local health authorities to coordinate outbreak management according to regulations.

Each family's proactive approach to hygiene and adherence to health guidelines is crucial in preventing disease outbreaks and protecting children's safety.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/phong-benh-tay-chan-mieng-can-su-phoi-hop-giua-nha-truong-va-gia-dinh-5087687.html