Hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease claimed one more life on Saturday, killing a 14-month-old child in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The latest fatality has taken the death toll to six, with 82 children in the area currently being hospitalized for HFM disease. So far, the disease, characterized by fever, oral rashes and blisters on the palms of hands and soles of feet, has infected 3,984 children in Sarawak.
Sarawak's Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan said that the latest victim died at the Sibu Hospital on Saturday. He added that by noon on Saturday, 213 new cases had been detected, with 33 more children being hospitalized on the same day. The areas that have been affected are Bintulu, Betong, Kuching, Lawas, Miri, Mukah, Marudi and Sibu.
Sarawak's education ministry said that the government is considering indefinite closure of daycare centers, primary schools and playgrounds to prevent the disease from spreading. In fact, 488 primary schools and kindergartens have already been directed to shut down “to cut any transmission of the virus from child to child and in order for the operators to clean-up their premises” said Health Minister Datuk Chua Soi Lek. In addition, parents of young children have been told to keep their children indoors as much as possible.
According to Sarawak's health department, 119 health personnel, including health inspectors, have been assigned the responsibility of closely monitoring areas where infections have been reported. Besides inspection of public areas, the workers will also create awareness about the disease. “They're to highlight the importance of cleanliness in the prevention and control of the disease,” a health department spokesperson said.
“The HFM disease in Sarawak has reached a critical level and we are trying our best to prevent the disease from reaching the peninsula,” Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein said.
The last outbreak of the disease in the same region was in 1997, when 34 children succumbed to the HFM disease.
