GEORGE TOWN: With 1,954 cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) already reported in Penang within the first eight weeks of the year, its state Health Department has initiated preventive and control measures to curb its spread.
Penang health committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said this was after children aged below six years old accounted for the largest group of victims.
"There has been an increase in HFMD cases in Penang, 12.8% in the final week, from 171 cases in the seventh week to 193 cases in the eighth week of this year.
"Most of the cases are among children aged six years and below, involving 1,484 cases or 75.94%, while for those aged from seven to 12 years, a total of 359 cases (18.37%) were recorded.
"However, these HFMD cases are caused by Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and Coxsackievirus A6 (CA6) infections which usually result in mild symptoms," he said on Tuesday (March 4).
Gooi added that no HFMD cases reported in this state have been treated in the hospital Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or caused death so far.
However, he said childcare centres, kindergartens and nurseries are premises at risk of HFMD outbreaks following the occurrence of two or more cases recorded in one locality with epidemiological links.
"Of the 37 outbreaks reported, 75.7% involved nurseries, kindergartens, nurseries and preschools, while 21.6% involved primary schools and 2.7% were reported at childcare centres," he said.
Gooi said the state Health Department has since conducted inspections and closures of premises involved in the HFMD outbreak to break the chain of HFMD infections in the state.
He said the department has also carried out comprehensive disinfection activities on the interior and exterior surfaces of nurseries, kindergartens, and pre-schools as well as the play equipment and teaching aids.
