KUCHING: The number of new hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases recorded in Sarawak has increased dramatically to 70 cases, from 30 on Monday, reversing the downward trend for the past three consecutive days.
State Health Department director Dr Zulkifli Jantan said yesterday the rise in new cases was seen in Kuching with 38 cases, Betong and Mu-kah (four each), Sibu (one) Bintulu (nine), Miri (three) and Limbang (five). The trend brought the cumulative number of reported cases to 4,163 so far, he said in the daily updates on the disease.
He said there were two new admissions, one each at the Serian hospital and Miri hospital, bringing the cumulative number to 328 reported throughout the state.
Two institutions were closed in Bintulu division after one was served with closure order and the other voluntarily closed. So far, a total of 75 institutions comprising schools, pre-school facilities or child care centres, have been closed. — Bernama
