By CESAR JOLITO III

Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Negros Occidental surged dramatically this year, as the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported a 424 percent increase as of July 19.

PHO data showed a total of 1,327 HFMD cases have been recorded since January 1, higher than only 253 cases in the same period last year.

Bago City topped the list with 355 cases.

Children aged one to 10 years old remain the most vulnerable group, the PHO noted.

“HFMD is highly contagious,” PHO head Girlie Pinongan warned.

“It spreads quickly in communities, especially among children. Frequent handwashing is a simple but very effective way to prevent infection,” she added.

HFMD is a common viral illness that causes fever, rashes and painful sores in the mouth, as well as blisters on the hands and feet.

The illness spreads through direct contact with droplets from coughing or sneezing, touching an infected person or through kissing, hugging or sharing utensils, contact with an infected person’s feces, and touching infected objects and surfaces.

Local health officials are urging communities to practice proper hygiene, frequent handwashing, and to monitor symptoms closely.

Parents are also advised to keep symptomatic children at home to prevent further spread.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City also recorded a notable number of HFMD cases.

From January 1 to July 27, the City Health Office logged 92 cases, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance in urban centers.

Local health authorities across Negros Occidental have been instructed to increase public awareness campaigns and to reinforce hygiene protocols in households and schools./CJ, WDJ