The Ministry of Health of Peru announced on April 17 that hand, foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious infection mainly affecting children under five years old, and called for strengthened preventive measures.
The announcement highlights the public health importance of the disease due to its rapid spread in environments such as nurseries and schools. The ministry stressed the need for increased vigilance to protect vulnerable populations.
According to Dr. Pierina Vilcapoma Balbin, an infectious diseases specialist at the National Institute of Health (INS), early symptoms include fever, general discomfort, and sore throat. Painful blisters or sores in the mouth may follow, along with rashes on hands, feet, or even buttocks. While most cases are mild, Vilcapoma said that parents should take children to a healthcare facility immediately if they show signs such as dehydration, persistent fever, difficulty breathing or neurological symptoms like drowsiness or extreme irritability.
Preventive measures recommended by Vilcapoma include frequent handwashing, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, disinfecting surfaces regularly, avoiding close contact with infected individuals and keeping symptomatic children at home. “Since there is no specific vaccine available yet,” Vilcapoma said,”prevention—especially handwashing and timely isolation—is the main tool to stop transmission.”
The Ministry reaffirmed the role of INS in monitoring outbreaks and sharing key information about prevention strategies to help protect public health.
