Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak

Some Facts About Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak
The recent rise of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases have gotten parents, schools, Health Ministry and other authorities up in arms to combat this disease, as it can spread really quickly, and inflicts mostly on children under the age of 5.

Although HFMD happens all year round, with more than 40,000 HFMD cases reported since January this year, they are treated mostly as isolated cases as the disease are usually contained. However, schools, preschools and kindergartens have been on high alert ever since the number of cases of HFMD has spiked, noticeably spreading in Penang, Sabah and Sarawak in the months of June and July, leading to what has been called an outbreak.

The recent HFMD outbreak has claimed at least one life so far in Malaysia, which is a 17-month-old boy from Penang. Another 2 and a half year-old boy in Sarawak is also believed to have died due to HFMD, but investigations remain ongoing. Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has become an endemic childhood disease in East and Southeast Asia. It is mainly caused by the human enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) and Coxsackievirus 16 (CV-A16). HFMD can be spread via contact with the infected child’s nasal fluid, saliva, blisters or faeces, or if they have touched surfaces or toys that has the HFMD virus. The disease is usually mild – with symptoms limited to fever, mouth ulcers, rashes on the hands and feet, followed by flat discoloured spots or bumps that may blister on the hands, feet and mouth. However, if left unchecked, these symptoms may developed into other complications which might lead to deaths.

According to Health Ministry Disease Control Division director Datuk Dr Chong Chee Keong said children’s toys, which are shared a lot in preschools and kindergartens, have been identified as one of the causes for the spread of HFMD in the country, as toys, are commonly shared among children, but could also transmit the virus from one child to another really quickly.

“Mothers and kindergarten management must clean the toys, toilets and napkins which are infected because the virus can spread easily. And of course inside the house itself. Children tend to play together and transmission can happen from one child to another,” he was quoted as saying in Bernama.

Following several cases where children were infected with HFMD at the same time, schools and kindergartens were closed down for several days to prevent the infection to spread, and also have the premises cleaned up and disinfected, while parents are advised to keep their children at home, taking care of the child’s personal hygiene, and also ensure that the child is in a clean environment.

Parents with young children are advised by the Health Ministry to take these steps as a precaution to protect their children from being infected with HFMD:
1) Encourage young children to always wash their hands after touching any kind of surfaces and public utilities like toilets, or even their own toys.
2) Always maintain a clean house and personal hygiene after handling your child, and disinfect all items that the children may be touching at home.
3) Do not bring children inflicted with HFMD to public areas to prevent the spread of the disease to other children.
4) Seek treatment at hospitals and medical centers immediately if your child is found to have symptoms of HFMD.
5) Ensure that disposable diapers are thrown into a closed-lid trashcan.

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