Sharp Rise in Child Viral Disease
126 new cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were seen last week
A TOTAL of 126 new cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) were seen here last week, a significant change that is being monitored closely.
This works out to up to a dozen cases more per day than last month.
About 70 cases a week is considered normal.
The HFMD taskforce, a joint ministerial body that is overseeing the situation, says it is too early to conclude that this is the start of a rising trend.
'The overall situation remains stable and under control for the time being,' it said in a statement issued yesterday evening.
Of last week's 126 new patients, 96 were five-year-old or younger children.
On Monday, 54 cases were reported, and Tuesday saw another 34.
The taskforce says it has stepped up monitoring of the situation and surveillance of pre-school centres to ensure that they continue to observe high levels of hygiene and sanitation.
A four-year-old boy, Chua Jun Hao, died from HFMD last week.
He had spent Christmas with his two siblings and four young cousins at their grandparents' home in Pekan Nanas, Johor.
Eight children, including Jun Hao's two-year-old sister, Xin Yee, and his eight-year-old brother, Jun Jie, were warded at KK Women's and Children's Hospital for observation after Jun Hao's death.
All eight have since been discharged but three new cases have been admitted for observation.
All three children are in stable conditions.
An outbreak of HFMD last September and October claimed the lives of two children and was suspected of causing the death of a third.
In the first 20 days of October, 2,198 cases were reported and at the peak of the outbreak, 258 new cases were reported in one day.
There are no vaccines or drugs for HFMD which is spread through body fluids.
Doctors can only treat the symptoms, which include fever, blister- like rashes on the hands, feet and bottom, mouth ulcers, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Parents are reminded to keep their children at home, away from schools or childcare centres, if they are unwell.
They should seek medical attention and keep the children at home to recover.