Parents urged to protect children from hand, foot and mouth disease

The Westmoreland Health Department is urging parents to guard their children against hand, foot and mouth disease, amid continued reports of the viral illness.

Parish Health Promotion and Education Officer at the Department, Gerald Miller, said that while the illness is typically more prevalent between March and June and September and December, cases have persisted outside those periods, with cases being reported during the summer as recently as August.

With the new school term approaching, Miller is encouraging parents and operators of early-childhood institutions to strengthen children’s hygiene practices to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the virus.