HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

4.

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Health whether (i) there is a rising trend of hand, foot and mouth disease among young children over the last 24 months; and (ii) his Ministry will make known to the public (through the media, onsite location or websites) the location, date and time when the disease last occurred.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: In the past three years, the average weekly notifications of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among children aged six years and below have varied from 273 cases in 2002, to 92 cases in 2003 and 106 cases in 2004. This year, the weekly average has gone from 163 cases in January to 180 cases in February and 382 cases in March. For the first week of April, the number has declined slightly to 347.

HFMD is generally a mild and self-limiting childhood disease. Most of the cases reported so far had mild illness, requiring only outpatient treatment. The virus that caused the HFMD-related deaths in 2000 and 2001, Enterovirus 71 (EV 71), has not been detected in the HFMD cases this year.

MOH works closely with MCYS, MOE and NEA in the prevention and control of HFMD in childcare centres, preschools and kindergartens. The measures undertaken include the enforcement of high standards of personal and environmental hygiene, and the early identification and isolation of infected children. In the affected childcare centres, notices of HFMD outbreaks will be posted and parents would be informed via letters. MOH also provides weekly epidemiological updates to the public on its website at: http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/publications/idbulletin.

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