Health authorities have stepped in to quell public anxiety following an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) affecting 19 children in the Rehoboth Health District’s Hardap Region
All affected children are currently in stable condition and recovering at home under the care of health authorities.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in a statement Friday, raised concerns over a significant surge in public panic, premature school closures, and widespread misinformation.
Officials strongly emphasized that HFMD is a common, generally mild childhood illness and that there is no cause for alarm.
To address widespread confusion, the ministry explicitly clarified the difference between human HFMD and animal Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). Although they share similar names and both produce blister-like sores, they are entirely distinct illnesses caused by completely unrelated viruses affecting different species.
Human HFMD is an enterovirus affecting humans, primarily young children under the age of five, while animal FMD is caused by an Aphthovirus impacting cloven-hoofed livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. Humans cannot contract animal FMD, and animals cannot contract human HFMD.
Common symptoms of HFMD include fever, sore throat, painful mouth blisters, and rashes or small blisters on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and occasionally the buttocks. Because the condition is a self-limiting viral illness, treatment focuses primarily on supportive care and symptom relief, such as managing fever with over-the-counter pain relievers and ensuring adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration.
Health officials advise parents to keep symptomatic children home from school or daycare until they have fully recovered.
Furthermore, the ministry cautioned school administrations against implementing premature closures out of fear, stressing that closures should only occur if officially directed by health authorities following a localized risk assessment.
The public has been urged to practice regular hand hygiene, disinfect frequently touched surfaces, avoid unverified social media claims, and rely solely on official channels for accurate information.
