PETALING JAYA: A total of 15,548 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases were recorded nationwide during the 20th epidemiological week (ME) – a 106.6% increase from the week before.

       Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the 19th ME had recorded only 7,526 cases.

       The 20th ME is from May 15 to 21, and the 19th is from May 8 to 14.

       “The surge was expected due to the mobility of Malaysians during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations,” the Health director-general said in a statement yesterday.

       He added that cumulatively, the disease had recorded 47,209 cases nationwide this year, with the highest in Selangor (13,640), followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with a combined 6,206. Perak recorded 4,099 cases (8.7%), Kelantan 3,726 cases (7.9%) and Sabah 3,352 cases (7.1%) while the other states had fewer than 2,500 cases.

       Dr Noor Hisham said 43,736 cases or 93% of the total were children aged six and below, 2,765 cases (6%) were children between seven and 12 years old, and the remaining 708 cases (1%) were over 12 years old.

       “Based on the type of virus (enterovirus) surveillance in Malaysia, the three major viruses that cause the spread of HFMD in the community this year are Coxsackie A16 (CA16), Coxsackie A6 (CA6) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

       “To date, there are two EV71-positive HFMD cases admitted to the intensive care unit due to encephalitis. Both cases are children under six years of age,” he said.To date, there were 1,168 HFMD outbreaks nationwide, with the most occurring in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, at 413, followed by Selangor (143) and Perak (130).

       Dr Noor Hisham said the majority of the outbreaks took place in nurseries, kindergartens and preschools with 711, followed by private homes (407) and childcare centres (42).

       Dr Noor Hisham said to curb the spread of the virus, state health departments and district health offices have conducted an engagement session with the relevant agencies to oversee childcare centres.