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SINGAPORE
(Reuters) - Singapore widened its closure of child play
areas from Monday after two children's deaths were suspected
to be related to Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD),
the environment ministry said on Sunday.
The
government said on Sunday that fast-food restaurants must
shut their children's play areas and said public and private
wading pools should be closed. On Saturday it said kindergartens
and childcare centers must shut.
It
said all schools, including foreign system schools, that
cater to children aged five and below are to suspend classes.
An
Environment Ministry official told Reuters the closure
would be for at least seven to 10 days.
``We
are taking these precautionary measures to break the chain
of transmission,'' the ministry said in a statement.
HFMD
can be spread through contact with nasal discharge, saliva,
feces and fluid from blisters, and indirect contact with
items used by an infected individual.
Two
children, a brother and sister aged two and 14 died on
Saturday, after being admitted to a local hospital on
Thursday exhibiting fever, rash and vomiting. A five-year-old
brother was also admitted and remained in hospital in
stable condition.
The
government has classified HFMD as a legally notifiable
disease from Sunday which means physicians must report
all new cases to the authorities. Since September 12 there
have been 363 reported cases believed linked to the disease
in Singapore, a ministry spokeswoman said.
The
government said the average weekly cases of HFMD cases
number doubled this year (up to mid-September) to 58 from
27 and 26 in 1999 and 1998, respectively.
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