Statistics: Affluent families triggered HFMD outbreak

GEORGE TOWN: More affluent families in Penang, who travelled with their children during the school holidays last month, triggered the extreme outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) plaguing the state.

State Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin said children who had much more exposure to human contact during last month’s school holidays came back with the HFMD and spread it to other children when they returned to their schools or daycare centres.