KUALA LUMPUR: Up to 22,463 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases were reported nationwide until the 17th epidemiological week (April 24-30) from which, 96 per cent were children aged below 6.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the statistics marked a sharp spike of 12.8 times more compared to the same period last year, which saw only 1,752 cases.
HFMD, he said, had infected 96 per cent or 21,508 children below 6; while 729 others, or three per cent, were aged from 7 to 12.
A chart shared by Dr Noor Hisham in a statement today showed the remaining one per cent or 193 cases involved adults aged 18 to 55.
There were no HFMD cases logged for those in the 13 to 17 age group, as well as those above 55.
"To date, 767 outbreaks had been reported in Malaysia where the three states with the highest numbers were Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 259, followed by Selangor with 100 and Perak with 98.
"A majority of the outbreaks occurred in kindergartens, nurseries and preschools with 600 cases, followed by private homes with 186 and 26 at childcare centres," said Dr Noor Hisham.
HFMD, he said, is caused by enterovirus infection, with a majority of cases resulting from the Coxsackie Virus A16 and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).
The viruses, he added, spreads through saliva contact, blisters or faeces of HFMD patients whose infection is usually mild with symptoms of fever, followed by blistering rash on the hand, feet, mouth and tongue.
"Close to all HFMD patients will recover without treatment within seven to 10 days. However, the EV71 infection can cause severe complications such as encephalitis, pulmonary edema and myocarditis," he said.
Dr Noor Hisham also advised parents to send their children to the clinic or hospital if they show signs of the infection and refrain from sending them to childcare centres, nurseries, kindergarten, school and public places.
He said personal belongings such as toothbrushes, handkerchiefs, towels, blankets, cups or forks and spoons must not be shared.
Dr Noor Hisham also stressed on proper hand washing with soap, frequent cleaning of toys and table surfaces, chairs and floors at least twice a day and covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
To curb possible HFMD infections, he said the ministry will work closely with its counterparts and other agencies to heighten preventive measures and stress on the importance of practices such as self-hygiene, proper hand washing and environmental hygiene.
It also includes disinfection of contaminated surfaces and gatekeeping screenings at kindergartens, nurseries, preschools and schools.