KUALA LUMPUR: Cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) this year have risen 20-fold compared to last year.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said 47,209 HFMD cases were recorded in Malaysia up to the 20th Epidemiology Week (EW) compared to 2,237 cases recorded in 2021 for the same period.
He said there was an increase of 106.6 per cent from the 19th EW (7,526 cases) to 15,548 cases for the 20th EW, which was expected due to the movement of people during the Hari Raya celebration.
"Until May 21, Selangor contributed the highest number of cases with 13,640, equivalent to 28.9 per cent, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 6,206 cases or 13.1 per cent.
"Perak recorded 4,099 cases, Kelantan 3,726 cases, and Sabah 3,352 cases. Other states reported below 2,500 cases," he said in a statement.
Dr Noor Hisham said 43,736 of this year's total cases involved children aged 6 and below, while 2,765 cases were those aged 7 to 12 and the remaining 708 aged 12 and above.
Based on surveillance of types of enterovirus this year, he said, there were three main viruses — Coxsackie A16 (CA16); Coxsackie A6 (CA6) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).
Two children, he said, were found positive to have EV71 and had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) following encephalitis (brain inflammation) complications.
"Both of them are below 6 years old," he added.
Dr Noor Hisham said 1,168 HFMD outbreaks were reported in Malaysia so far.
The highest number of outbreaks were in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 413, followed by Selangor with 143 and Perak at 130, he said.
A majority of the outbreak locations, he said, involved kindergartens, taska (nurseries) and pre-schools with 711 outbreaks; 407 outbreaks at private homes, and 42 outbreaks at childcare centres.
Up to May 21, 5,124 premises had been inspected with 3,157 of these premises instructed to carry out disinfection exercises and were monitored; 41 premises had closed voluntarily, and 138 premises were told to close in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry had conducted engagement sessions and briefed premises owners on measures that could be taken to curb the spread of HFMD.
Among the measures are symptoms screening at the premises entrance; frequent hand washing, and cleaning as well as disinfecting children's toys as well as house floors, especially toilets, with chlorine-based solutions.
"Others are proper handling of disposable diapers by throwing them into a covered trash can and using separate eating and drinking utensils.
"The public, especially parents with young children, are advised against taking their children to places where there may be risk of HFMD infection such as public playgrounds," said Dr Noor Hisham, adding that HFMD cases at nurseries, kindergartens and schools must be reported to the nearest district health office for the next course of action to be taken.