Puffy Fishes and HFMD update

Posted by tyan (Singapore, Singapore) on 18 April 2008 in Animal & Insect.

I brought the boys to Plaza Singapura today and we saw this open concept aquarium stall at the basement.There were tiny crabs,star fish(real and living ones),clown fish,some other marine fishes,the different kinds of puffy goldfish...they were so nicely decorated that we stopped by that shop for a good 20 minutes just gazing at the different varieties of fishes. I also went to my favourite stall Spotlight browsing through scrapbooking ideas. But i don't think i am coming to this place anymore,it is one of the most stroller unfriendly places i have ever been to.

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Today i called the kindy and found out that there are another 2 new cases ever since i stopped bringing Caleb to school on Wednesday. And to my horror,the latest infected kid came from the morning session. Prior to him,the rest were all from the afternoon session,and it seems that it has 'spread' to the morning session people.

I asked the administrator,"What class is he/she from?"

'Not from Caleb's class'

Hey,thats not very helpful.What are you so seretive about?Anyway we were informed of the classes that the infected kids came from so what's the big deal telling me which class this kid comes from?

I asked in the most polite way i can manage,
"Can i ask whether the school disinfects the place between each session?"

'Oh yes,but you know,some kids like to touch the floor and put their hands into their mouths...'

I wonder why the kindy didnt manage to contain the HFMD spread,given that it has been around the neighbourhood for such a long time.

I also feel that they were not transparent and detailed enough about the precautionary measures they are taking.I found from a friend that her son's kindy has stopped all water,sand and dough play,as well as assembly sessions to minimise the spread and it has worked well so far. Why didnt Caleb's kindy take measure like these to minimise spread?

Also in their memo to parents,they only mention the classes where the infected kinds come from, and advising parents on what they can do,such as checking for ulcers and blisters,fever and stuff. But they were not clear as in what the school will do to prevent further spread of HFMD,eg,telling us specifically that they will stop certain activities in school, what they do exactly to disinfect the place and the frequency by which they do it.They should also be as transparent as possible about the spread of HFMD in the school.

So now,HFMD has risen from 1 to 3 to 5 cases in the school in a course of 2 weeks.I wonder if it is a result of their lack of vigilance and precautionary measures.Looks like i will keep Caleb at home for another week.

Comments (8)

bwee from Singapore

That's horrible! :( I would be equally worried if I were you... In fact, after reading the ST report I was paranoid enough to call up Ying Ying's kindy to check if there was any new cases. There have been 2 so far in the past couple of months but they were from other classes held far away fr her classrm. Hmm... is Caleb's kindy air-conditioned? I think viruses spread faster in enclosed space right? Ying Ying's kindy is not - one of the reason y I chose the kindy. Hmmm...dunno if eating multi-vits help or not... Sigh!

18 Apr 2008 12:03pm

@bwee: no its not air coned...would you send ying to school if you were in my shoes?i am still undecided actually

Viewfinder from Bradenton, United States

These puffy goldfish are a riot of color; no wonder you and the kids spent so much time looking at them.

I am not familiar with the particular ailment (HFMD) you're concerned about. It sounds like a miserable thing, but how realistic is it to try and shelter our children from exposure to all such things? It is only through exposure that our immunities can develop into the strong protective systems God intended. I am not saying deliberately expose Caleb, but I am suggesting perhaps it is not as scary as all that. But I could be very wrong.

18 Apr 2008 12:04pm

@Viewfinder: hi Uncle VF,thanks for your feedback.No,it is not possible to shelter our kids from all such things,in the same way we sometimes cant protect them from the vices of this world.But then this HFMD is not the kind of disease you will develop immunity against if you get it once.you can get it once,twice,even more,and there are different strains to this virus.The common one means the child will get fever,(maybe even not),blisters on hand,foot,mouth(thats how you get the name),and painful rashes/ulcers in the throat.which will make the child very very uncomfortable.There is another strain,ent70/75 i cant remember that can cause death.No cure,no vaccine.Only for the kid to ride it through himself with his antibodies.For me,it is also on top of the fact that i am alone to cope with 2.I have nowhere to send Ian if Caleb is infected,this HFMD is quite contagious.In 2001,an epidemic broke out here that killed 8 children.Means both my boys will prob get infected,and plus i have to teach.I am not sure if my parents will allow me into their house if my boys get infected as it may pass on to my nieces,whom my mom visits weekly.Then i wont be able to teach my students who are having their exams within these few weeks.Thats,why i am so edgy abt it i guess:)

Tricia from Melbourne, Australia

oh my..that's terrible. is it widespread throughout back home in Singapore or is it just a few kindys??

and i never realised PS is stroller unfriendly..i mean there are escalators, travellators and elevators..not stroller friendly enough?

19 Apr 2008 7:14am

@Tricia: its quite widespread,i know of some kindys who have no cases,but just this week there were 1000 cases!n a week!PS has all that you mention,but i suppose it was they had so many lifts,and none of the able-bodied passengers allow me to go in with stroller.When i tried to take the escalator,which was very narrow,i get weird stares.Myabe i said it wrongly,its not PS which is stroller unfriendly,but the shoppers there who are stroller unfriendly.

bwee from Singapore

Tough qns. I m more inclinced towards sending her to sch cos how long can we keep them away fr sch right? In my opinion, if they are fated to catch it, they will somehow get it no matter where they are. But I may be wrong lah...Anyway I know my husband surely wont. He isn't the kind who like to take chances.

19 Apr 2008 3:53pm

@bwee: i suppose its ok if the school managed to keep the situation under control.I suppose its true,'Man proposes but God disposes',after all the precaution we take and they still somehow get it,then really 'boh bian' loh!

Nancy from Singapore

Robyn's childcare did a disinfection-thingy over this weekend so that whatever germs can be killed or at least minimize the spread of any infection. So far, there isn't any case of HFMD at her centre. They've been very 'on' in checking the kids daily. Robyn was turned away on 1 day cos she had a fever. I thought it's good that they're adamant on such stuff . :)
I sure hope this HFMD will pass by quickly...it's really scary. 1000 cases over a week...*shudder*

20 Apr 2008 9:30am

@Nancy: You know the thing i am quite upset with Caleb's kindy is that they dont tell us specifically what they are doing to disinfect the place.First there was one case,then 2,then now 5!At first only afternoon session,now morning session also got case!The thing is that we were told that some of the infected kids did not have fever,so went undetected.i hope it passes too.1000 a week is scary.i read today that its not usual.Its like nowhere is safe..

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Oh I didn't know that this could kill, thats awful (I wasn't familier with it at all till you said about HFMD) and the symptoms you describe would be hard for an adult to bare, let alone a child! The Kindy should be taking all precautions possible to stop it spreading. I would keep my child away in such a case.
Hope it's all over soon Tyan.

20 Apr 2008 6:02pm