Two confirmed cases and three suspected cases of the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease have been discovered at the Rousillac Presbyterian Primary?School. Ministry of Education media relations officer Yolanda Morales-Carvalho confirmed on Tuesday that two cases of the disease were discovered at the south Trinidad school. However, she assured that the ministry is taking precautionary steps to ensure the school population does not contract the disease. On Wednesday, concerned parents expressed the fear that their children could get the contagious disease and are calling on the ministry to shut down the school for proper sanitisation. However, Morales-Carvalho said the school is not going to be shut down and there is no need for concern. "We have been taking some precautionary measures, one, to speak with the children about sanitisation in terms of washing their hands with soap especially after using washroom and two, for maintenance staff to ensure toilets and classrooms are sanitised on a daily basis," she said.
The two cases, she said, were confirmed by a doctor at the Fyzabad Health Centre. The children have been sent home until they are cleared to return to school. On Wednesday, a parent, who requested anonymity, said the risk of contracting the disease is high and has decided to keep her children at home. "I am very concerned about the situation. Other children going in there and they will get it once the school is not sanitised properly. They are putting the children at risk," the parent said. Principal Keith?Sankar, however, said measures have been put in place to ensure that infected children are medically cleared before being allowed to return to school so there is no risk of exposure. "There is no situation to warrant the closing of the school. The suspected children have been sent home and the nurse has advised that they get clearance from the public health facility before they return to school," Sankar said.
Morales-Carvalho said the ministry is telling parents of suspected cases to take their children for medical treatment and that they should present a medical certificate of clearance before returning to classes to protect the rest of the school population. She also indicated that a Ministry of Health representative visited the school and informed members of staff and teachers about the disease and addressed their concerns. Morales-Carvalho said the school administration also met with concerned parents to share information about the disease and to work together on any suspected case. "We are monitoring the situation through our principal and school supervisor," she said.