THREE more schools were ordered closed yesterday by the Ministry of Health following outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

A total of 11 childcare centres and preschools have been forced to shut in the last week as health officials look to stem the spread of the common childhood virus.

Another 26 schools have been advised to close voluntarily. This includes 11 schools that were added to the list yesterday.

Cases reported this week hit the 1,000 mark with 1,162 new ones reported between Sunday and 3pm yesterday. Over the last few days, however, the virus has shown signs of slowing down.

While the symptoms of HFMD, a common childhood ailment, are generally mild, health officials have been concerned about a potentially lethal strain, enterovirus 71 (EV71), which was responsible for 19 per cent of this year's cases.

With schools doing their bit to prevent the spread, the onus is now on parents to be responsible for their kids.

'Parents must make sure there is no fever for at least 24 hours and that all the rashes or blisters have dried out before it's safe for the kid to be out,' said Dr Wendy Sinnathamby, a consultant paediatrician at the Children's Medical Institute at National University Hospital. The incubation period for the virus is about three to five days. It typically takes between five and seven days for a child to recover fully.

Dr Sinnathamby said that there was no reason for healthy kids to be confined at home.

A Straits Times check at malls and play areas islandwide saw many parents out with their kids.

At VivoCity, more than 10 children were seen horsing around the playground and water fountain.

Mr Roger Levesque, a 58-year- old pilot, was making a trip to Toys 'R' Us when his four-year-old son asked to stop at the playground. 'We cannot keep him in a container. We do our best to take care. Whenever he touches door handles or elevator buttons, we sanitise his hands,' said Mr Levesque.

Asher Ng, five, was splashing out at the water play area under the watchful eyes of his parents.

'I trust parents are responsible enough not to take their ill children out,' said his mother Lilian Ng, 38, a merchandising manager.

Another child, Alya Sufiah, four, was finally getting some sun after recovering from a high fever and rash that lasted two weeks.

'She's so active. It's not fair to coop her up at home,' said her mother Noorhana Kairi, 28, a housewife who has made it a habit to carry a pack of Dettol handwipes for her child.

While most parents were taking added precautions, some still remain misinformed, thinking that children who have had the disease are immune to future bouts.

Doctors say HFMD can be caused by more than 60 different viruses and children will develop immunity only to the strain they contract.

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