Malaysia reported tens of thousands of cases each year, says ministry
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry is currently evaluating the feasibility of a vaccine candidate for the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).
The role of the vaccine is being considered in respect of the epidemiology of the disease and the multiple enteroviruses that cause it, said the ministry’s Disease Control Division.
Malaysia has been reporting tens of thousands of cases each year.
The ministry said that HFMD viruses can spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva, blister fluid and faeces, as well as contaminated surfaces or objects.
HFMD, which usually affects young children, is caused by 20 types of enteroviruses, particularly Coxsackievirus A16, Coxsackievirus A6 and Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71).
“The currently available vaccine provides protection specifically against EV-A71,” the division told The Star.
However, it pointed out that EV-A71 accounted for only 1.5% of enteroviruses detected so far this year.
It explained that the majority of the cases involved other enteroviruses such as Pan-Enterovirus and Coxsackievirus A6.
As such, it said the role of the EV-A71 vaccine needs to be considered in the context of the viruses that are currently circulating in Malaysia.
“The ministry will continue to monitor the HFMD situation, enteroviruses and emerging scientific evidence. We will review the need and appropriate role of HFMD vaccination in Malaysia from time to time,” it said.
A local pharmaceutical company is looking to import and market the finished vaccine before moving toward local production.
According to the company, the vaccine from China is being reviewed by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency. It is intended for children aged between six months and six years.
Three versions of the HFMD vaccines against EV71 have been approved for use in China.
According to the World Health Organisation, the efficacy of these three vaccines after two doses saw immunisation ranging from 90% to 97.4% after one year of surveillance.
In Malaysia, HFMD cases went up by 266% in the first quarter of last year compared with the same period in 2024.
“The increase in cases last year was likely due to a combination of the natural cyclical pattern of HFMD, changes in circulating enteroviruses, and increased transmission through close contact in childcare settings and the community,” said the ministry’s Disease Control Division.
“Changes in the main viruses were also noticed, with more cases of Coxsackievirus A16 in 2025, followed by a move towards EV-A71,” it added.
This year, the number of cases has declined by almost 83%.
As of Aug 22, a total of 40,879 cases have been reported, compared to the 239,907 cases during the same period last year.
