50 New HFMD Cases Detected In Sarawak, 14 Children Hospitalised

KUCHING, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Health Department detected 50 new cases of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in the last 24 hours causing 14 children to be hospitalised, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri George Chan said.
Updating the press on the status of HFMD in Sarawak, he said that in the 24 hours until 10 am Friday, 19 of the new cases were detected in Kuching, Miri (14), Sibu (nine), Bintulu (four), Sri Aman (two) and the rest elsewhere in the state.
Dr Chan, who is also the chairman of the state's Disaster Relief Management Committee, said the latest figures brought the number of children infected since the disease was first detected to 13,740, with Sibu recording the highest number at 3,016 followed by Miri (2,852), Kuching (2,105), Bintulu (1,756), and Sarikei (945).
HFMD epidemic has hit Sarawak twice this year, with the first surfacing on Jan 29 and the second on May 7.
The second wave of the outbreak has forced the temporary closure of 25 kindergartens and nurseries as part of pre-emptive measures to contain its spread.
The outbreaks have claimed 13 lives so far, including seven who were tested positive for the deadly Enterovirus 71 (EV71).
The Health Department has also stepped up efforts to contain the latest outbreak. Yesterday, the Health Ministry approved an additional RM667,250 to purchase medical equipment for the various hospitals in the state to stem the tide.