Update On Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease (HFMD) Situation In Singapore(3)

15 Apr 2008

1. The number of HFMD cases notified to MOH increased by 12% to 1000 cases in the week ending 12 April 2008 from 892 in the previous week. This brings the total number of notified HFMD cases to 6315. 13 (1.3%) cases required hospitalisation last week mainly because of poor feeding.

2. A seven-year-old girl has been hospitalised for encephalitis last week.  She developed symptoms on 3 April and was seen by a general practitioner who made a diagnosis of HFMD. She was subsequently taken to the Emergency Department on 9 April and was admitted for encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Investigations are still on-going to determine the causative agent. Her condition has since improved.

3. MOH’s sentinel surveillance has shown higher circulation of Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus, with 16% of the samples tested positive for EV71 so far this year.

4. HFMD is endemic in Singapore and there will be yearly seasonal outbreaks. The continued rise in reported cases is expected as part of the epidemic uptrend, and is also partly caused by increased public awareness of the disease from our public education efforts. HFMD is generally a mild and self-limiting childhood disease.

Public advice

5. The Ministry would like to stress the importance of maintaining high standards of personal and environmental hygiene to minimise the risk of HFMD. Parents should ensure that their children adopt the following good practices:

• Wash hands with soap before eating and after going to the toilet;

• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing;

• Do not share eating utensils.

Parents should also ensure that toys or appliances that are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions should be cleaned before they are used again.

6. Parents should consult a doctor early if their child has fever, mouth ulcers and rashes on the palms, soles or buttocks. Children with HFMD should remain at home until all the blisters have dried up. During this period, contact with other children should be avoided until the child recovers. The child should not be brought to any public or crowded places. Proper hygiene should also be practiced at home so as to prevent transmission to other family members.

7. For more information on HFMD, please see the FAQs on MOH website at http://www.pqms.moh.gov.sg/apps/fcd_faqmain.aspx, or the guideline on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases in Child Care Centres / Kindergartens / Pre-School Centres here.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

15 APRIL 2008