Opposition MP Dr Fuad Khan

Former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan wants to know what is being done to prevent the spread of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease from entering T&T.

In a statement the Barataria/San Juan MP says that the outbreak of the disease in Jamaica can spread to this country and mechanisms must be put in place to prevent it. He is calling on his successor Terrence Deyalsingh to act now, to prevent the situation from becoming uncontrollable.

HFMD is most common among children and is not fatal. The symptoms, which include but is not limited to fever, fatigue, dehydration, rashes, mouth sores and malaise, are persistent and can last up to two weeks or more depending on the case. It can be transferred from person to person though skin contact, sneezing, coughing, or the exchange of saliva, restricting the spread of the virus is often difficult.

Dr Khan says it is possible for someone contaminated with the disease to easily enter T&T shores and introduce this contagion to the population, through the travel.

He says the populace needs to know what type of screening, if any, will be conducted at our various ports of entry, given the free movement of CARICOM residents within the CSME arrangement, as well as any quarantine facilities should a patient of this virus be detected on arrival.

According to Dr Khan, the country needs to remain vigilant in order to prevent a disaster.