SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — While not at an alarming level, the Westmoreland Health Department is reporting an increase in the number of young children in the parish being diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) over the past two weeks.

The revelation comes at a time when children are attending summer programmes and preparing for the upcoming school year in September. Medical officer of health for the Westmoreland Health Department Dr Marcia Graham is hopeful that this will not impact the new school term.

“We don’t think that this will be an issue that will run into September from the current cases. But we are visiting the schools because summer school is in progress, and so we want to make sure that we don’t have any further spread,” assured the medical officer.