SHAH ALAM - A total of 57,510 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have been reported between Jan 1 and May 25, this year.
This, Health Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said was a 24-fold increase from the same period in 2021 where there were 2,333 cases.
He said the significant increase in cases occurred since April, this year following the reopening of social activities, including full attendance at schools and kindergartens.
"HFMD cases exceeded the warning level of 1215 on ME 14/2022, from April 3 to April 9, when a total of 1,653 cases were reported," he said in a press conference on Thursday.
Apart from that, Khairy who is also a vice president of the 75th World Health Assembly said the increase in cases were due to social activities during the Hari Raya celebration, this year.
He said five states which have the highest number of cases were Selangor with 16,286 cases (28.32 percent); Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, 7,298 cases (12.69 per cent); Perak with 5,045 cases (8.77 per cent); Kelantan with 4,194 cases (7.29 per cent) and Sabah with 3,829 cases (6.66 per cent).
"Most reported cases were among children aged six years and below, which is 52,846 cases (92 per cent).
"Meanwhile, the age group of seven to 12 years old had a total of 3,741 cases (seven per cent).
The cumulative number of HFMD outbreak incidences for this year, as of May 25, was 1,370 with 5,203 cases or 9.05 per cent of the total cases.
"The rest are sporadic cases," he added.