NewsDesk @bactiman63

Through June 18, the Malaysia Ministry of Health a total of 106,477 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), an increase of some 10,000 cases in the past week.

This is an 39-fold increase compared to the number of cases reported during the same period in 2021 (2,710 cases) and 3.4 fold increase compared to 2019 when 31,500 cases were reported during the same period.

Health authorities continue to report a declining trend in cases in recent weeks.

The state of Selangor contributed the highest number of cases compared to other states which was 29,880 cases (28.1%). It is followed by WP Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya 11,687 cases (11.0%), Perak 10,938 cases (10.3%), Johor 7,052 cases (6.6%) and Kelantan 6,532 cases (6.1%).

Children are the most common group with HFMD; that is, 95,175 (89%) were children aged 6 years and below, followed by the age group of 7 to 12 years with 9,183 cases (9%).

Based on the surveillance of the type of virus (enterovirus) that causes HFMD in Malaysia, the three (3) major viruses that cause HFMD transmission in the community in 2022, are Enterovirus 71 (EV71), Coxsackie A6 (CA6) and Coxsackie A16 (CA16). Two (2) cases of HFMD confirmed to be infected with EV71 are still under close monitoring in the Intensive Care Ward (ICU) due to complications of encephalitis.