THE total number of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases has risen to 51,147, according to the Health Ministry.

“From January 1 to August 14, the total number of reported HFMD cases are 51,147, while Sarawak has 6,209 cases,” Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told Parliament this morning.

As at July 18, the reported number of HFMD cases was 33,425.

Dzulkefly said the cases in Malaysia were not as virulent compared with other countries, as the cases arose from the Coxsackie A16 virus and not the Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

“So long as daycares and kindergartens observe the five precautionary measures, its spread can be curbed,” said Dzulkefly.

The five measures are observing personal hygiene, washing hands thoroughly, ensuring premises are kept clean, gatekeeping, and disinfecting the contaminated areas.

He was responding to a parliamentary question from Kelvin Yii (Kuching-PH) on the number of cases in Sarawak and the steps taken to curb the spread of HFMD cases.

According to Dzulkefly, 1,387 (22.3%) of the cases in Sarawak were found in Kuching with one reported death involving a 27-month-old baby from the Mukah district on July 28. – August 16, 2018.