A total of 82,846 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) were reported as of the last day of the epidemiological week (ME) 22/2022 (June 4), says health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said this showed a 32-fold increase from the 2,485 cases recorded in the same period last year and a 1.7-fold increase over the 30,489 cases reported in 2019.

However, he said a total of 16,954 HFMD cases were reported nationwide during ME22/2022, a 9.3% decrease compared to the 18,688 cases recorded in ME21/2022.

Noor Hisham said as of June 4, Selangor had contributed the most HFMD cases with 23,305 cases (28.13%), followed by Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya with 9,540 cases (11.52%), Perak with 8,032 cases (9.70%), Kelantan with 5,782 cases (6.98%) and Johor with 5,234 cases (6.32%).

“Most of the HFMD cases occurred among children aged six and below, at 74,841 cases (90%), followed by those aged seven to 12, at 6,520 cases (8%) and those over the age of 12 with 1,485 cases (2%),” he said in a statement today.

Noor Hisham said based on surveillance, the three main viruses causing the transmission of HFMD within the community this year were Enterovirus 71 (EV71), Coksackie A6 (CA6) and Coxsackie A16 (CA16).

He said to date, three HFMD cases had been admitted to the ICU.

The first and second cases were admitted to the ICU due inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and are still under close monitoring while the third case has recovered and was allowed to go home on May 31.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,746 outbreaks were reported in Malaysia with three states recording the highest number: Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya at 562 (32.2%), followed by Selangor at 208 (11.9%) and Sarawak at 206 (11.8%).

“The majority of the disease outbreaks occurred in nurseries, kindergartens and preschools with 1,059 outbreaks or 61% of the total cases, followed by private homes with 605 outbreaks or 35% and childcare centres with 56 outbreaks (3%),” he said.

Outbreaks occur when two or more cases are reported in one locality and when cases have epidemiology relations and infections occur during the incubation period of HFMD.

Noor Hisham said as of June 4, a total of 1,346 nurseries, kindergartens and preschools had been closed, 305 of which closed voluntarily and 1,041 of which were closed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.