Malaysian health officials reported an additional 3,852 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) during the week of July 15-21, bringing the outbreak total for the year to 35,886 cases, prompting officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Welfare and the National Unity and National Integration Department to join with the Ministry of Health (MOH) in preventing and controlling HFMD.

Image/Malaysia Ministry of Health
Image/Malaysia Ministry of Health

Following the number of HFMD cases that exceed the alert threshold for all states, MOH has held a meeting between agencies responsible for monitoring nurseries, kindergartens, pre-schools and primary schools. The meeting held on 19 July 2018 aims to discuss strategies for the prevention and control of HFMD.

They agreed on the following actions: Execution and consolidation of filters at the entry point of nursery, kindergarten, pre-school and primary school (gate keeping) to ensure that only children with no signs of HFMD infection are allowed to enter the classroom; improving the level of hygiene outside and inside the premises, including the hygiene of children’s toys and daily disinfection requirements each time the school session ends and increasing the number and coverage of activities to raise the awareness and concern of parents, teachers and children including schoolchildren on the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and the environment. This includes the proper washing of the hands, throwing the trash in the provided waste bin, and washing your hands after the toilet, before and after eating.

The result of the meeting is a step towards strengthening collaboration among various ministries, agencies and various stakeholders in the control and prevention of HFMD disease. It is hoped that the concerted collaboration of all these parties will reduce the incidence and outbreak of HFMD infection in Malaysia in the near future.