<figure id="attachment_3008948" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3008948" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3008948 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/30468194-hfmd-freepik-resize-140325-1.webp" alt="hfmd" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3008948" class="wp-caption-text">Hand, foot and mouth disease causes blisters on the hands, feet, mouth and tongue, mostly in young children. (Freepik pic)</figcaption></figure>
GEORGE TOWN: Penang is facing a sharp rise in hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases this year, with a 409% increase recorded between Jan 1 and March 22 from the same period last year.
State health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said 3,446 cases have been reported so far this year, up from just 677 cases during the same period in 2024.
The disease causes blisters on the hands, feet, mouth and tongue, mostly in young children. In worse cases, it can cause lung, brain and heart infections through the enterovirus 71.
Penang has already recorded one such case, although the patient has since recovered.
Gooi said of the overall numbers, 112 clusters had been identified, with 26 currently active. Clusters are defined as two or more HFMD cases occurring in the same area or centre at around the same time.
&#8220;We would like to urge parents to be vigilant and ensure that their children’s hands are frequently washed, and to practise good hygiene at all times.
&#8220;Parents should alert the health authorities right away about infections. We need everyone’s cooperation to curb this outbreak quickly. Early detection and hygiene practices are key,&#8221; he told reporters in Komtar.
The worst-hit area is Seberang Perai Central, which includes Bukit Mertajam and Perai, with 1,082 cases. This is followed by Seberang Perai South (Nibong Tebal) with 700 cases, and the northeast district (George Town), which recorded 628 cases. Seberang Perai North (Butterworth) has 416 cases, while the southwest district has 620.
The outbreak is mainly affecting young children in nurseries, kindergartens, and preschools. So far, authorities have ordered the closure of 39 private kindergartens, 30 primary schools, 24 government childcare centres, 10 Islamic kindergartens, eight preschools, and one childcare centre.
Most of the reported cases involve mild symptoms such as fever, blisters, and mouth ulcers. Those who contract the infection are being treated as outpatients, with no deaths or intensive care admissions so far. However, officials remain concerned about the risk of further spread at crowded childcare centres and in public areas.
Gooi said the main virus behind the outbreak is coxsackievirus A16, which spreads through saliva, fluid from blisters, and close contact. He also referred to the case of enterovirus 71, a strain that can cause serious complications like encephalitis and myocarditis.
He said parents should keep infected children at home and avoid sending them to daycare if they show signs of infection.

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