Dear Parents
In Hong Kong, a continuous rise in HFMD activity and spread of Flu is noted recently. In order
to prevent students from getting sick, we would like to remind parents not to send students
with HFMD or Flu symptoms to school. For students taking sick leave during the Year End
Assessment, a supplementary assessment will be arranged on the first day that the student
resumes school. The supplementary assessment will start on 15/6. Since the purpose of Year
End Assessment is to provide students with opportunities to experience a formal assessment,
and to evaluate their learning progress, the result of the assessment will not be used for
ranking, and therefore marks will not be deducted from the supplementary year end
assessment. Parents are strongly advised to allow the infected student to take rest at home
until the student is fully recovered.
Below is the guideline issued by the Centre of Health Protection:
HFMD outbreak and EV71 infection
To prevent HFMD outbreak and EV71 infection in your institution, CHP would
recommend you taking the following steps:
1. Maintain good communication with parents and help them to understand the need
to keep children at home for rest when they develop fever or rash. Advise them to see
doctor promptly if they develop symptoms suggestive of HFMD.
2. Encourage staff to screen for sick children before they enter the school. Children with
HFMD should be excluded from schools until fever has subsided and all the vesicles
have dried and crusted. (As an extra precaution, children with EV71 infection are
advised not to go to school for another two weeks after all symptoms subsided, since
the virus may be excreted in stool for some weeks and is associated with a higher risk
of complications.)
3. Supervise children on personal hygiene practices, especially on how to wash the
hands properly with liquid soap before meals and after going to toilet, cover nose
and mouth while sneezing or coughing, and proper disposal of nasal and mouth
discharge.
4. Keep the environment clean and hygienic, and follow the Guidelines on Prevention
of Communicable Diseases in Child Care Centres, Kindergartens, and Schools which is
available at http://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/School_full_eng_20090115.pdf
5. Last but not least, please also incorporate in your health education to children that,
when they are having holidays outside Hong Kong, they should also remember to
keep their hands clean and avoid touching vesicles on hands of other sick children.
Regards,
Teaching and Learning Team (Primary Section)
中文版本請下載以下文件：chinese version
Date: 18th September 2010 (Saturday)
