HFMD cases increased in Kedah and Perlis.
For the 21st Epidemiology Week (ME) from May 22 to 28, new cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) increased in Kedah and Perlis.
In Kedah, Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman, chairman of the Health and Local Government Committee, said 1,178 additional cases were reported in ME-21 this week, up from 790 the week before, bringing the total number of HFMD cases in the state to 3,403.
He added five new clusters including one kindergarten, one nursery, and three pre-schools had been identified, with four of them being ordered to close under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, while the danger of infection was minimal in another.
All of the cases reported had moderate symptoms and were treated as outpatients; no cases had significant consequences or required intense treatment.
Dr. Mohd Hayati said the district of Kuala Muda had the most instances, with 785, followed by Kubang Pasu (494), Kulim (451), and Kota Setar (451). (380 cases).
Since January 1, 936 HFMD cases have been documented in Perlis, according to state Health Director Dr Sirajuddin Hashim, a ten-fold increase over the 109 cases found in the same period in 2021.
He explained that the department had previously set the HFMD alert level at 12 cases per day and the warning level at 18 cases per day, but that cases began to rise above the alert level on ME-13 (March 27-April 2), with 15 cases reported, and increased to the warning level with 28 cases on ME-14 (April 3-9).
Due to social activities during the Hari Raya festival, cases on ME-20 (May 15-21) and ME-21 (May 22-28) increased. Due to the relaxation of activities as well as full attendance at childcare centres, nurseries, kindergartens, kindergartens, pre-schools, and schools, there has been a considerable increase in cases since April 2022.
This year in Perlis, twelve clusters have been identified, with two outbreaks currently ongoing in a nursery and a kindergarten.
