Hardap education director Paul Lewin says the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak detected at J&W Mouton Primary School on farm Karanas near Rehoboth is under control.
He told The Namibian on Thursday that the staff from St Mary’s Hospital at Rehoboth had visited the school to assess the situation.
“I am awaiting their latest update. But for now everything is under control,” he said.
The outbreak was detected this week after 19 pupils tested positive for the disease and were subsequently sent home to prevent spreading to other pupils, as it spreads through close contact with infected people and contaminated surfaces.
The school’s principal informed parents of the cases in a letter on Tuesday.
He says health ministry officials visited the school after pupils developed symptoms, screened the affected children and provided medication to them.
The 19 pupils were instructed to be isolated at home for two weeks to allow them to recover and prevent further spread.
The principal urges parents to prioritise their children’s safety and well-being before they return to school.
The outbreak has raised public concern amid confusion between hand, foot and mouth disease and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which affects animals.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Health and Social Services clarifies that the two illnesses are caused by different viruses and affect different populations.
It says FMD affects animals, while HFMD is a viral illness that mainly affects young children, although their names sound similar.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform also issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and certain wildlife species, but does not affect humans.
Hardap regional health director Yvonne Stephanus could not be reached at the time of publication.
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