Parents and teachers at St Bernard’s Primary School remained on edge as classes resumed on Monday, following a two-day closure and deep clean triggered by a suspected outbreak of the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease among pupils. The chief medical officer insisted the premises were now safe, but lingering doubts persisted among staff.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George confirmed that health authorities suspect an outbreak of the common viral illness that typically affects young children. While investigations were ongoing, he sought to assure the staff that the school environment is now safe.
“We are working with the Ministry of Education to try to sort out the matter of a viral contagious disease within the schools,” Dr George told reporters following a meeting with staff at the Airy Hill, St Joseph school. “The school was closed for two days, and we are happy that the school can reopen today. I’ve ensured the teaching staff and the ancillary staff that there is nothing that they should be concerned about with respect to any contagious disease on their behalf.”
Dr George stressed that parents have a critical role to play in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
“The moral of the story is if a child is sick, parents in general should not send that child who is sick to school. The child should not be allowed back into the school until they produce a health certificate from a registered medical practitioner.”
While noting that most symptoms were consistent with hand, foot and mouth disease, he acknowledged some uncertainty remained.
“We believe based on our evidence that it probably is hand, foot and mouth disease,” the nation’s top public health official said. “It resolves usually with symptomatic treatment. At the same time, I’ve told the [chief education officer] that we have not closed the investigation, and we are still looking at other leads because one or two of the children were not typical for hand, foot and mouth. So we need to do some more work.”
From a public health standpoint, Dr George declared that premises safe, especially following last week’s industrial cleaning.
“If you see any child looking unwell, please contact the principal,” he said. “There is a standard operating protocol that should be triggered. The public health person should know on our end. So I am happy to report that I believe based on the advice that I have given that we should be reopening today.”
Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, who also attended the meeting that lasted for over an hour, explained that the Ministry of Education had acted on reports of multiple students presenting with symptoms over the past two weeks.
“You will recall that about two weeks ago it had been brought to the attention of the Ministry of Education that there were children presenting with symptoms,” she said. “We understood that last week there were some children presenting with these symptoms. I understand from Dr George that there were about 29 who were assessed, but out of those 29 only about two had an initial diagnosis.”
The St Joseph school was shut after a number of students began presenting with rashes, sores and peeling skin—symptoms health authorities had narrowed down to highly contagious conditions such as hand, foot and mouth disease, impetigo or scarlet fever.
She added that the school was closed last Thursday and Friday for a full industrial cleaning and that the ministry had requested medical professionals meet with staff to allay their concerns.
“Several questions were asked of the CMO with regard to the viral illness with which the children were presenting and they (teachers) received the answers, and I’m pleased to report that school will remain open today. The staff will do their best to make sure that all the protocols are followed.”
But while staff have agreed to return, reservations remained.
Julian Pierre, a Barbados Union of Teachers vice president who chairs the union’s health and safety committee, said educators were still uneasy but prepared to rely on official guidance—for now.
“Many questions were asked. And some staff, even though they are still uncomfortable, we are going to trust the judgement of the medical professional, that being the chief medical officer, that it is safe to return to the classroom. So that we will do until otherwise proven that something may not be the case.”
Pierre confirmed that staff initially raised the alarm two weeks ago and had requested that health officials meet with them directly.
“Firstly, we want to thank the Ministry of Education for their prompt response . . . . Now, the medical staff did come on Wednesday, July 3 . . . . We weren’t totally comfortable. However, the school was closed . . . for two days for the industrial cleaning.”
Amid the doubts, he said teachers would trust the professional opinions of the Ministry of Health: “We will trust the judgement of the medical professionals to say it is safe to return.”
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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