Rashes and blisters on the hand are the most common sign of HFMD. — Photos: Filepic
SHAH ALAM: Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in Selangor are still under control and there is no need to close nurseries, kindergartens and daycare centres in the state, says Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Mentri Besar said any closures would be on the advice of the Selangor Health Department, especially given the increasing number of cases and infectivity.
"I will meet with the Health Ministry soon because there are things I want to ask more about HFMD. Indeed, the cases are increasing but the situation is under control and it has not reached the level where closures are needed," he said at a press conference here on Wednesday (May 18).
On Tuesday (May 17), Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said that Selangor recorded the highest number of HFMD cases at 8,864 which was 28 per cent of the overall cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya totalling 4,421 cases (14 per cent), Sabah 2,650 cases (8 per cent), Perak 2,638 cases (8 per cent) and Kelantan 2,493 cases (7.9 per cent), while other states reported less than 1,500 cases.
Dr Noor Hisham said the number of HFMD cases in the country had increased at an alarming rate from January to date, 15 times higher compared to the same period last year with 31,661 cases reported.- Bernama
