The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Durban has surged from 36 to 117 overnight, according to the provincial Health Department.

According to an article published by The Witness, the confirmed cases have been reported in schools and centres across Phoenix, Greenwood Park and Umhlanga, affecting children between the ages of three and 13.

The first six cases were recorded between February 6 and 10.

KZN Department of Health spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said: “We are concerned about these growing numbers, but in the same breath, we would like to appeal for calm. It is important for people to understand HFMD, including what it is, how it can be prevented, its symptoms and how it is transmitted.”

The provincial health department’s director of communicable disease control, Babongile Mhlongo, has urged teachers and parents to ensure that pupils sanitise frequently and that children showing symptoms stay at home.

“We need to regularly clean surfaces and other items such as toys. So, I think we’re going back to what we used to do during Covid-19, where we’re saying people need to wash their hands and they need to make sure that surfaces are cleaned regularly. Children should also avoid contact with people who are already infected.

“Hence, we’re saying for those children that are still presenting with symptoms, we are really encouraging that they are kept at home,” Mhlongo says.

Mhlongo advises parents to take their children to a clinic or doctor if they complain of flu-like symptoms.

“The current HFMD that we’re seeing in Durban is not the same as the foot-and-mouth disease that normally affects animals.

“It’s not a zoonotic condition, meaning that it cannot be transmitted from animals to humans. So, if you have cows, don’t be worried and try to isolate those cows because they will not transmit the disease. It’s a totally different disease.”

eThekwini Municipality also called for calm, saying its Area-Based Outbreak Response Team had launched an investigation and was closely monitoring the situation.

“We want to reassure the public that the situation is under control,” the municipality said in a statement.

To strengthen response efforts, the municipality has conducted a virtual training session with circuit managers and school principals, with another session planned for healthcare workers next week.

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