Child in Sarawak dies from suspected HFMD infection

PETALING JAYA: A child has died of suspected hand, foot, mouth disease (HFMD) in Sarawak.

The toddler, who was two years and five months old, was from Kampung Pangtray, Daro in Mukah.

In a statement on Saturday, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the child began to have a fever on July 24 and showed signs of rashes on the palms and feet, as well as oral ulcers the next day.

“The child was taken to the Daro health clinic on July 25, 2018, diagnosed with suspected HFMD and given treatment.

“The mother was advised to seek immediate treatment if her child did not recover,” he said.

On Friday (July 27), the child was taken to the Emergency and Trauma Department at Daro Hospital in an unstable condition and referred to Sibu Hospital for future treatment.

However, the child died at Sibu Hospital at 2.08am on July 28, with the cause of death being severe pneumonia with HFMD infection.

“Clinical samples were taken to verify the cause of death,” he added.

The Health Ministry has advised the public, especially those with young children, to take precautions to reduce their risk of being infected.

Top of the list is to wash one’s hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet, before preparing food, after changing diapers and after cleaning up children’s faeces.

HFMD is a viral disease which could easily spread, especially through the Coxsackie A16 and EV71 virus, through contact with saliva, blisters and faeces.

So far, nine schools nationwide have been closed due to the recent hand, foot, mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak.

Seven of the schools are in Sabah while the two schools are located in Penang and Pahang.