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Mar 25, 2010
Outbreak of HFMD cases
<!-- by line -->By Judith Tan
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The KK Women's and Children's Hospital (above) said it saw a total of 438 HFMD cases as of mid-March, but there were no serious cases. -- PHOTO: PERIPLUS PUBLICATION
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THE number of children who came down with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) crossed epidemic levels in the first two weeks of March.
And going by past trends, the cases look likely to go up. In the first week of this month, 517 children came down with the normally mild childhood disease that usually causes fever and rashes.
The number rose to 559 the following week, with cases crossing the warning level of 500 in both weeks. The cases fell slightly to 496 at the end of last week.
During the first 11 weeks of this year, 4,269 HFMD cases were reported, a rise of about 15 per cent from the 3,705 cases during the same period a year ago.
Associate Professor Chong Chia Yin, who heads the Infectious Diseases Service at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, said it saw a total of 438 HFMD cases as of mid-March, but there were no serious cases.
HFMD is transmitted by coming into direct contact with the infected person through saliva, nasal discharge, feces and fluid from the rash of an infected person.
Outbreak of HFMD cases
<!-- by line -->By Judith Tan
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
<!-- story content : start -->
THE number of children who came down with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) crossed epidemic levels in the first two weeks of March.
And going by past trends, the cases look likely to go up. In the first week of this month, 517 children came down with the normally mild childhood disease that usually causes fever and rashes.
The number rose to 559 the following week, with cases crossing the warning level of 500 in both weeks. The cases fell slightly to 496 at the end of last week.
During the first 11 weeks of this year, 4,269 HFMD cases were reported, a rise of about 15 per cent from the 3,705 cases during the same period a year ago.
Associate Professor Chong Chia Yin, who heads the Infectious Diseases Service at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, said it saw a total of 438 HFMD cases as of mid-March, but there were no serious cases.
HFMD is transmitted by coming into direct contact with the infected person through saliva, nasal discharge, feces and fluid from the rash of an infected person.
