SINGAPORE
(Reuters) - Singapore widened its closure of child play areas
from Monday after two children's deaths were suspected to be related
to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), the environment ministry
said on Sunday.
The government
said on Sunday that fast-food restaurants must shut their children's
play areas and said public and private wading pools should be
closed. On Saturday it said kindergartens and childcare centers
must shut.
It said all
schools, including foreign system schools, that cater to children
aged five and below are to suspend classes.
An Environment
Ministry official told Reuters the closure would be for at least
seven to 10 days.
``We are taking
these precautionary measures to break the chain of transmission,''
the ministry said in a statement.
HFMD can be
spread through contact with nasal discharge, saliva, feces and
fluid from blisters, and indirect contact with items used by an
infected individual.
Two children,
a brother and sister aged two and 14 died on Saturday, after being
admitted to a local hospital on Thursday exhibiting fever, rash
and vomiting. A five-year-old brother was also admitted and remained
in hospital in stable condition.
The government
has classified HFMD as a legally notifiable disease from Sunday
which means physicians must report all new cases to the authorities.
Since September 12 there have been 363 reported cases believed
linked to the disease in Singapore, a ministry spokeswoman said.
The government
said the average weekly cases of HFMD cases number doubled this
year (up to mid-September) to 58 from 27 and 26 in 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
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