‘33,425 HFMD cases recorded’
KUALA LUMPUR: Up to 33,425 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have been recorded this year, said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah yesterday.
He said most states had shown an increase in the number of cases this year compared with the corresponding period last year, except for Sabah and Sarawak.
“On the fourth day of the epidemiology week 29/2018, which was July 18, 722 HFMD cases were reported.
“On July 17, 18 premises were closed, involving six childcare centres and 12 kindergartens. This brings to 418 the number of premises that have been closed so far, comprising 198 childcare centres, 197 kindergartens and 23 schools.”
He urged the public to follow the advice of health authorities.
In Terengganu, 524 HFMD cases were recorded between January and July 18, which is a 192.7 per cent increase compared with the 179 cases reported during the same period last year.
State deputy health director Dr Mohd Jusoh said Kuala Terengganu recorded the highest number of cases at 129, followed by Marang (90), Dungun (82), Setiu (75), Besut (40), Hulu Terengganu (36), Kuala Nerus (52) and Kemaman (20).
In Negri Sembilan, 1,350 HFMD cases were identified between January and yesterday, said state Health, Environment, Cooperatives and Consumerism Committee chairman S. Veerapan.
He said this was an increase of 139.8 per cent compared with the same period last year with 536 cases.
“The distribution of HFMD cases by district to date is 950 in Seremban, Jempol (102), Port Dickson (75), Rembau (73), Kuala Pilah (63), Jelebu (46) and Tampin (41).”
In Perak, 2,465 cases were recorded between January and yesterday, compared with 1,256 during the same period last year.
State deputy health director Dr Venugopalan K. Balan said 11 districts showed an increase in HFMD cases.