Drastic increase in HFMD cases in Johor

Johor recorded a drastic increase in cases of the number of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) last month with 161 cases between May 14 and 20, the highest in a week so far this year.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said a total of 1,448 HFMD cases had been reported in the state between January until June 11 this year, compared with 1,847 cases in the corresponding period last year.

"Although the cumulative total showed a drop, the number of pandemic reported was 49 episodes, an increase of 113 per cent from 23 episodes in 2015," he said in a statement here today.

Ayub said two districts recorded high HFMD cases, namely Johor Baharu with 641 cases (20 pandemic) and Kluang with 236 cases (14 pandemic).

As such, he advised all quarters, including parents and guardians, to not bring children to public places if they had symptoms of being infected with HFMD.

Children having symptoms of HFMD should be sent for treatment as soon as possible, he said.