By Reza A Hamid
MELAKA – Kindergartens, nurseries and childcare centres are the greatest contributor of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Melaka, which comprised of 75 percent or 1,033 cases from the 1,378 HFMD cases recorded in the state as of 14 May.
The State Health and Anti-Drug Exco, Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh said, the disease involving babies and children below the age of six increased after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration as those institutions came back into operation.
Currently, 12 premises have been ordered shut under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 involving all three districts in Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin.
“The HFMD in Melaka is still under control. Majority of the cases or 91.4% or 61 cases out of 67 cases received outpatient treatment and there has been no death to date.
“As of Epidemiology Week-19 2022 (ME19/2022) from 8 until 14 May, there were three outbreaks or HFMD clusters. The cumulative clusters is 16 clusters,” he said in a statement today.
Jasin district reported the highest number of cluster with 11 clusters (68.6%), followed by Melaka Tengah (4 clusters or 25%) and Alor Gajah (1 cluster).
The increment saw the infection rose by 346 cases or 629 percent last week compared to merely 55 cases the week before.
According to him, the comparison was based on the ME19/2022 record which started from 8 until 14 May that recorded 401 HFMD cases compared to only 55 cases the week before from 1 until 7 May.
“In ME19/2022, the cases in Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin districts exceeded the epidemic level of 43 cases. Melaka Tengah recorded 124 cases, an increment of 69 cases (125.4%) compared to 55 cases one week earlier.
“Meanwhile, Alor Gajah and Jasin districts recorded 162 and 115 cases. There were no case reported earlier, thus, the cases in both districts increased by 100 percent,” he explained.
According to him, the Melaka State Health Department (JKNM) requested all parents, guardians and teachers to continue adhering to the advice given to break the infection chain. -MalaysiaGazette
