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MOH to investigate viral outbreak at St. Andrew prep school
Friday, 09 October 2009
An investigation is being carried out by the Ministry of Health into the outbreak of a highly infectious disease at a school situated in the Corporate Area.
Stella Maris Prep on Shortwood Road in St. Andrew has been ordered closed following four confirmed cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.
A statement issued by the Ministry on Friday night said the instruction was issued after a team of health officials visited the school and conducted investigations.
It said based on the highly contagious nature of the disease, the school was closed by the St. Andrew Health Department to facilitate cleaning and sanitization.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell Forrester says the Ministry is getting the full cooperation of the school's administration.
According to the Ministry of Health, hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children.
It causes fever and blisters in the mouth, usually on the tongue, gum and inside the cheek as well as a rash on the skin.
Other symptoms include malaise, poor appetite and sore throat.
Infection is easily spread from person to person as a result of nose and throat secretions, saliva, blisters and the stool of infected persons.
The Health Ministry has pointed out that this is not the same disease which is found in animals.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Stella Maris School Board, Monsignor Michael Lewis, says he expects classes to resume on Monday.
"We already have a professional company that has already come and started working this evening, tomorrow and into the weekend if necessary doing detailed cleaning, wiping down with cleaning agents all the surface areas desks, benches, books anything that the children would use during the regular school day. So we will be doing that and we expect that school will be opened on Monday morning," Monsignor Lewis said.
Friday, 09 October 2009
An investigation is being carried out by the Ministry of Health into the outbreak of a highly infectious disease at a school situated in the Corporate Area.
Stella Maris Prep on Shortwood Road in St. Andrew has been ordered closed following four confirmed cases of hand, foot and mouth disease.
A statement issued by the Ministry on Friday night said the instruction was issued after a team of health officials visited the school and conducted investigations.
It said based on the highly contagious nature of the disease, the school was closed by the St. Andrew Health Department to facilitate cleaning and sanitization.
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sheila Campbell Forrester says the Ministry is getting the full cooperation of the school's administration.
According to the Ministry of Health, hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children.
It causes fever and blisters in the mouth, usually on the tongue, gum and inside the cheek as well as a rash on the skin.
Other symptoms include malaise, poor appetite and sore throat.
Infection is easily spread from person to person as a result of nose and throat secretions, saliva, blisters and the stool of infected persons.
The Health Ministry has pointed out that this is not the same disease which is found in animals.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Stella Maris School Board, Monsignor Michael Lewis, says he expects classes to resume on Monday.
"We already have a professional company that has already come and started working this evening, tomorrow and into the weekend if necessary doing detailed cleaning, wiping down with cleaning agents all the surface areas desks, benches, books anything that the children would use during the regular school day. So we will be doing that and we expect that school will be opened on Monday morning," Monsignor Lewis said.