Tulum Kindergarten Closes After 36 HFMD Cases

Chetumal, Mexico — The Tulum kindergarten will remain closed for one week following an outbreak of at least 36 confirmed cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease, according to the Secretary of Health, Flavio Carlos Rosado. The official explicitly stated that the outbreak is not chickenpox.

The decision to close the school was made to contain the spread of the virus. Should additional cases be identified, the same closure measure will be reinstated for the educational facility.

Speaking prior to the start of a civic-military parade commemorating the 215th anniversary of the beginning of Mexico's Independence, Rosado stated that priority care was provided to the affected minors, along with implementing measures and protocols to prevent further contagion.

He clarified the nature of the illness, stating, “It was important that the boys and girls were not in the school during the week so that the viral process could be stopped. According to all the reports and calls we have, we are monitoring the situation; they are stable and doing well. This is a disease that affects children between three and five years old and, as the name implies, affects the hands, feet, and mouth.”

The outbreak has affected 31 children in the morning session and 5 children in the afternoon session of the kindergarten.

The Secretary of Health indicated that a re-evaluation will be conducted to determine when classes can resume after the initial closure period. If new cases are identified, the closure would be extended for another seven days from the date of the new report.

Furthermore, Rosado confirmed that a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the various areas within the educational facility has already been completed to prevent further spread of the contagion.