KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 82,846 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) were reported this year as of June 4, which was the last day of epidemiological week (EW) 22/2022, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
The Health director-general said this showed a 32-fold increase compared to 2,485 cases recorded in the same period last year and a 1.7-fold increase compared to 30,489 cases reported in 2019.
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However, he said a total of 16,954 HFMD cases were reported nationwide during EW22/2022 week, a 9.3% decrease compared to 18,688 cases recorded in EW21/2022.
Dr Noor Hisham said as of June 4, Selangor contributed the largest number of HFMD cases, with 23,305 cases (28.13%), followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 9,540 cases (11.52%), Perak with 8,032 cases (9.70%), Kelantan with 5,782 cases (6.98%) and Johor with 5,234 cases (6.32%).
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"Most of the HFMD cases occurred among children aged six years old and below, at 74,841 cases (90%), followed by those aged seven to 12 years old with 6,520 cases (8%) and those over the age of 12 with 1,485 cases (2%),” he said in a statement Tuesday (June 7).
Dr Noor Hisham said based on the surveillance, the three main viruses that caused the transmission of HFMD within the community this year were Enterovirus 71 (EV71), Coksackie A6 (CA6) and Coxsackie A16 (CA16).
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He said to date, there were three HFMD cases admitted to intensive care units (ICU).
The first and second cases were admitted to the ICU due inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and were still under close monitoring while the third case has recovered and was allowed to go home on May 31.
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Meanwhile, a total of 1,746 outbreaks were reported in Malaysia with three states recording the highest number, namely Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya at 562 (32.2%), followed by Selangor at 208 (11.9%) and Sarawak at 206 (11.8%).
"The majority of the disease outbreaks occurred in nurseries, kindergartens and pre-schools with 1,059 outbreaks or 61% of the total cases, followed by private homes with 605 outbreaks or 35% and also childcare centres with 56 outbreaks (3%),” he said.
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Outbreaks occur when two or more cases are reported in one locality and cases have epidemiology relations and infection occurred during the incubation period of HFMD.
According to Dr Noor Hisham, as of June 4, a total of 1,346 nurseries, kindergartens and preschools were closed, 305 of which were voluntary, and 1,041 premises were closed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988. - Bernama
