By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, August 1 — The number of hand, foot, mouth disease (HFMD) cases within the first 27 weeks of this year have increased significantly, with a difference of 33,250 cases compared to the same period last year.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said among the factor that led to the surge of HFMD cases — from 644 in 2021 to 33,894 cases this year — were due to the parents still wanting to send their kids to the childcare centre despite their children showing the symptoms.
He added that weak gatekeeping at the entrances to the childcare centres and inefficient quarantine measures taken on the affected child further escalated the spread of the infection.
“The parents also failed to practise proper hygiene practices at home aside from poor ventilation system at the childcare.
“Apart from that, close contacts between children at the centre and the sharing of toys among them also increased the infection risk,” he said when answering a question from Sementa state assemblyman Dr Daroyah Alwi on the spread of HFMD during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly, here today.
On June 14, state executive for public health Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud informed that 639 children in Selangor were infected with HFMD and have been hospitalised for further observation.
