Hand-foot-mouth Disease Affects 10,000 in Vietnam

The hand-foot-mouth disease, a contagious viral disease particularly affecting infants and children, has hit over 10,000 Vietnamese.

Nguyen Van Binh, head of the ministry's Preventive Health Department, said the disease has spread to 60 of the country's 64 provinces, Xinhua reported.

Hand-foot-mouth Disease Scare Causes Temporary Shut Down of Malaysian Preschools
Kuala Lumpur - Three Malaysian preschools situated in the eastern Sarawak state of Borneo have been asked to close for a 2 week period, following a hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) scare

The disease shows symptoms of fever and a rash most frequently seen on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and inside the mouth.

In Vietnam, the most common strain is Enterovirus 71 (EV-71).

A four-month-old baby died in southern An Giang province Feb 28, just one day after contracting the virus.

Hand-foot-mouth Disease Outbreak In Malaysia
Malaysia was put on high alert, as 600 new cases of hand-foot-mouth disease were reported in the state of Sarawak on Borneo Island

The same viral toxicity has been seen in Cambodia, where 54 children recently died within 24 hours of contracting the disease.

Japan, Macau, South Korea and Singapore have also reported high numbers of new patients.

Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease Affects 11,000 in China
Chinese health authorities have confirmed that over 11,000 people have been affected and at least four have died from the infectious hand-foot-mouth disease.

Vietnam expects an estimated 100,000 patients this year, the health official said.

The disease can be transmitted though digestive tracts. There are no vaccines or specific medicines to combat the disease and children under five are most vulnerable to it.

First Hand-foot-mouth Death Confirmed in Shanghai
Shanghai health officials have confirmed the first death in the city of hand, foot and mouth disease, casting doubts on its claim that it had contained the epidemic.

The main preventive measures are following hygienic practices in eating and drinking.

In 2012, the disease affected 151,100 people, of which 45 died, according to Vietnam's official records.