HAND, foot and mouth Disease (HFMD) cases in the country have increased by 15 times to 31,661 as of May 14, from only 2,121 cases in the same period last year, said Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said 7,526 cases were recorded during the epidemiological week ending May 14 alone, an increase of 349% compared with the 1,676 cases the previous week.

“Selangor logs the largest number of HFMD cases with 8,864 cases, or 28% of the total cases, followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 4,421 cases (14%), Sabah with 2,650 cases (8%), Perak with 2,638 cases (8%) and Kelantan with 2,493 cases (7.9%).

“Other states log fewer than 1,500 cases.”

Malaysia also recorded 889 outbreaks, with the three states and territories to record the highest number being Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 309 (35%), Selangor with 111 (12%) and Perak with 105 (12%).

“The majority of cases occur in kindergartens, nurseries or preschools with 575 outbreaks (65%), followed by private homes with 305 (34%), and childcare centres with 27 (3%),” said Dr Noor Hisham. – Bernama, May 17, 2022.