Increase of 83 HFMD cases in one week

A total of 1,379 Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases have been recorded nationwide from June 5 to 11, with an increase of 83 cases or 6.4 percent as compared to the previous week (1,296 cases).

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the trend of increase in HFMD cases were detected from April 24 to 30, with 794 cases recorded exceeding the warning level - 644 cases a week.

"As a result, the Health Ministry had issued a warning letter on the increase of HFMD cases in Malaysia on May 9 to all state health departments to increase health monitoring from time to time as a prevention and outbreak control measure," he said in a statement Thursday.

Dr Noor Hisham said Selangor recorded the highest in the number of cases recorded, namely 4,441 cases.

Dr Noor Hisham said, the HFMD disease is endemic in Malaysia and occurs throughout the year, and has a cyclical trend with a climax period for every three years.

The illness is caused by several types of virus - from minor to moderate types. However, infection with enterovirus 71 (EV71) may aggravate it and cause deaths.

He added, the HFMD disease is caused by enterovirus, with a majority due to the Coxsackie Virus A16 and EV 71 that spreads fast through contact with saliva, blisters and faeces of diseased victims, with an incubation period between three and five days.

Dr Noor Hisham said, the infection is usually mild with symptoms of fever followed by blisters on the hands, feet, mouth and tongue; and nearly all patients having full recovery without medical treatment within seven to 10 days.

He said children can also experience symptoms such as tract infections breathing, vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite.

However, Dr Noor Hisham said the EV71 infection can cause severe but rare complications such as encephalitis, pulmonary edema and myocarditis.