Decline in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases

25 Apr 2006

Since the public alert was raised in early March, the HFMD Task Force has stepped up prevention and control measures to break the chain of transmission in HFMD cases. In the past five weeks, the number of HFMD cases has dropped from 784 to 399. (See table below).

A total of 126 cases were seen at the A&E departments at KKH and NUH in the week ending 25 March, compared to 52 last week. None of them were seriously ill.

The Ministry of Health (MOH), together with MCYS and MOE had implemented several measures to curb the rise in HFMD cases. Doctors were asked to be more vigilant in looking out for children with HFMD symptoms. Schools, special schools, kindergartens and childcare centres also played their part in daily screening for sick children and stepping up good hygiene practices such as hand-washing. In addition, the public and parents have cooperated and heeded the public educational messages on the prevention and control of HFMD.

Despite the decline in cases, the Ministry will continue to monitor the HFMD situation closely.

We would like to remind schools, special schools, kindergartens, child care centre operators and parents to continue to practise good personal and environmental hygiene so as to provide a safe and healthy environment for our children. Parents are also advised not to send their sick child to school but to bring him/her to see a doctor early if there are any symptoms of HFMD - fever, mouth ulcers and rashes on the palms soles or buttocks.