Hand, foot and mouth disease on the rise in Sabah

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KOTA KINABALU (May 19): Sabah recorded an increasing trend of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) with five districts reported the highest number of cases.

The five districts are Tawau with 435 cases, followed by Sandakan with 387 cases; Lahad Datu (308 cases), Kota Belud (244 cases) and Papar (229 cases).

According to Sabah State Health Director Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin, the trend is about 51 times, namely, 2,834 cases for the period January to May 16 compared to 55 cases for the same period last year.

However, Dr Rose Nani pointed out that no fatalities due to HFMD have been reported so far in Sabah.

“A total of 93.1 per cent of the cases were children under the age of six.

“In fact, the majority of transmission of the infection occurred at home or early education centers,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Dr Rose Nani explained HFMD is an infectious disease of children under the age of 10 in which watery blisters appear on the hands, feet and in the mouth caused by a virus (enterovirus group).

He said children under the age of five are vulnerable to HFMD.

“The Sabah Health Department recommends and advises parents and early childhood education centers to take early steps if they detect HFMD cases.

“In addition, awareness on hygiene should be at the highest level,” she said.