Health Division Urges Parents to Keep Sick Children at Home

March 6, 2025 – The Division of Health, Wellness, and Social Protection is urging parents and guardians to keep children with symptoms of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease (HFMD) and Impetigo at home to prevent further spread. The call comes after recent data revealed that cases of HFMD have doubled, with Impetigo also on the rise, while Chickenpox cases have slightly decreased.

The Division highlights that symptoms of HFMD include fever, sore throat, loss of appetite, and painful mouth sores, followed by a rash on hands, feet, and sometimes other body areas. Impetigo is marked by fever, swollen lymph nodes, and yellowish crusty sores, typically around the mouth, nose, and hands. The Division stresses the importance of keeping sick children isolated, practising good hygiene, and visiting a doctor if symptoms appear. Keeping children home until all symptoms are apparent is crucial in reducing transmission.