Surge in HFMD cases

NST: A total of 488 kindergartens in Sarawak have been directed to shut down temporarily to fight an alarming spread of the hand, foot and mouth disease in the State.
This follows a sudden surge in the number of cases this year — some 920 cases were reported between Jan 1 and Feb 18, compared to 270 cases for the same period last year.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said the order follows discussions with Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan today.
At a Press conference in Kuching, Dr Chan advised parents not to expose their children to crowded places.
"They should stop sending their children to public swimming pools," he added.
He said four children below five had died of HFMD, with one confirmed as positive with the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus. This was a four-year-old child from Sibu.
However, the latest case, in which a 16-month-old boy from Mukah died with symptoms related to EV71 on Wednesday, had yet to be confirmed.
Yesterday, 20 kindergartens — nine in Kuching, five in Sibu, four in Bintulu and two in Miri — were directed to temporarily close after their pupils were confirmed to have contracted HFMD.
The closure is to enable the authorities to keep close tabs on the situation in the State.
Dr Chan said government hospitals had prepared isolation wards for those suspected of contracting the disease.
Private clinics had also been informed to be on the lookout for such cases.
Dr Chan said based on a study carried out nine years ago, it was found that high incidences of the disease occurred every three years.