Big jump in number of HFMD cases in Singapore

Two more childcare centres forced to close, another 10 on watchlist

Two childcare centres were on Friday forced to close for 10 days because of a rampant spread of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among its children.

Little Footies in Serangoon Gardens and Pat's Schoolhouse in Meyer Road are the latest among eight childcare centres and kindergartens ordered shut for this reason this year. Another 10 are on the watchlist.

The 1,119 children who came down with this viral illness last week was 50 per cent more than the 780-per-week number required for it to be considered an epidemic threat; last week's figure was almost four times higher than the last five years' median of 319 cases.

The 780 figure was crossed in the middle of last month, and the numbers have not stopped their upward march since

HFMD, which commonly affects children, can cause symptoms such as fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers and blisters on palms and feet. These last between four and five days, and a child will be well enough to return to school after nine days. There is no vaccine or medication to prevent or cure the viral infection.

An MOH spokesman told AsiaOne that the current epidemic stems from the Coxsackievirus - different from Enterovirus 71 (EV71). The more dangerous strain, EV71, can cause serious illness and was responsible for the death of a child here in 2008.

MOH stressed that it is most concerned when EV71 as it is known to be associated with potentially serious complications.

While the ministry's surveillance shows that the uptrend is not EV71-related, MOH says it will continue to monitor the situation.