NewsDesk @bactiman63

Since the beginning of the year through June 4, the Malaysia Ministry of Health has reported a total of 82,846 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases. This is an increase of 32-fold compared to the same period in 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) which is 2,485 cases.

Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Image/shawn c

In addition, compared to 30,489 cases for the same period in 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic), it showed a 1.7-fold increase.

Year to date, the State of Selangor contributed the highest number of cases compared to other states which was 23,305 cases (28.13%). It was followed by WP Kuala Lumpur & Putrajaya 9,540 cases (11.52%), Perak 8,032 cases (9.70%), Kelantan 5,782 cases (6.98%) and Johor 5,234 cases (6.32%); while other states report HFMD cases of around or less than 4,600 cases.

HFMD cases are common among children aged 6 years and below which is 74,841 cases (90%), followed by the age group of 7 to 12 years as many as 6,520 cases (8%). While the rest are over 12 years old, which is a total of 1,485 cases (2%).

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). In 2022, to date, there are three (3) cases of HFMD admitted to the Intensive Care Ward (ICU). The first and second cases were admitted to the ICU due to complications of encephalitis and are still under close monitoring in the ICU. While the third case is already healthy and allowed to return home on May 31, 2022.

To date, a total of 1,746 outbreaks have been reported in Malaysia where the three (3) highest states recorded outbreaks are WPKL & Putrajaya which is 562 outbreaks (32.2%), followed by Selangor 208 outbreaks (11.9%) and Sarawak 206 outbreaks (11.8%). The majority of the outbreak locations occurred in nurseries, kindergartens, kindergartens and pre-schools with 1,059 outbreaks (61%) followed by private homes with 605 outbreaks (35%) and also childcare centers with 56 outbreaks (3%). Outbreaks appear to be exacerbated during the incubation period of HFMD.