THE Health Ministry said hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases will decline in the next two to three weeks.

Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the viral disease is seasonal, adding that as children’s immunity increases, the number of cases will decrease.

“HFMD is usually seasonal. It will start, become a wave and, in less than a month, significantly drop on its own,” he told a press conference today.

“When many children are exposed to it, their immunity level will increase and cases will decrease.

“Intervention – personal hygiene, disinfection of nurseries and childcare centres and so on – also helps.”

Khairy said the ministry has a theory on the surge in HFMD cases this year compared with 2019.

Children spent less time outdoors and were not exposed to the viral disease during the pandemic, resulting in low immunity, he added.

“Due to this lack of exposure, the immunity level goes down. This is a classic theory of natural immunity. When not exposed to the disease, immunity will be low.

“This is probably why the number of cases is high now, because the Coxsackie HFMD virus is invading children who have only naïve virus (with no previous encounter to build immunity).”

Khairy said most HFMD cases are not serious, but advised parents to bring their children for treatment if they show symptoms. – Bernama, June 9, 2022.