THE Health Ministry (MOH) does not encourage alternative treatment methods such as using turmeric powder or neem leaves to treat hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). 

Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali said instead, people are advised to see a doctor if they have symptoms of infection.

“The MOH does not encourage alternative treatment because it has not been proven (to be effective) from a scientific point of view, and there is no specific treatment from a scientific perspective to treat the disease. 

“We are also concerned about the symptoms of dehydration. Hence, children with HFMD need to drink enough water. If not then it should be given intravenously and (the child should be) taken to hospital,” he told reporters when met at the Aidilfitri open house at his residence in Taiping today.

On May 17, Health Director-General Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was reported to have said that the number of HFMD cases in the country had increased at an alarming rate of 15 times to 31,661 as of May 14, compared with only 2,121 cases reported in the same period last year.

Dr Noor Hisham said that a total of 7,526 cases were recorded during the epidemiological week that ended on May 14, an increase of 349% compared with the previous week with only 1,676 cases reported. – Bernama, May 22, 2022.