Penang is experiencing a surge in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases with a 409% increase recorded between 1st January to March, compared to the same period last year. According to State Health Committee Chairman Daniel Gooi, Penang has reported 3446 cases so far in the last three months, a drastic increase from 677 cases in 2024. The majority of the cases involve young children, especially in nurseries, kindergartens and preschools, raising concerns among health officials.
Rising Numbers and Affected Areas
The highest case district is Seberang Perai Central (Bukit Mertajam and Perai) with 1082 cases, followed by Seberang Perai South (Nibong Tebal) with 700 cases. Other affected areas include,
- Seberang Perai North (Butterworth): 416 cases
- Southwest District: 620 cases
- George Town (Northeast District): 628 cases
In the most recent weeks of March (16th March-22nd March), Penang recorded 422 new cases, reflecting a 6.3% increase from the previous weeks. Officials have detected 22 HFMD clusters, bringing a total number of clusters this year to 112, with 26 active still.
To control the outbreak, authorities have ordered a temporary closure of 39 private kindergartens, 30 primary schools, 24 government childcare centres, 10 islamic kindergartens, eight preschools and one childcare centre.
While most of the HFMD cases have mild symptoms such as fever, blisters and mouth ulcers, authorities remain cautious about the risk of further spread. GFMD is primarily caused by Coxsackievirus A16, which spreads through blister fluid, saliva and direct contact with an infected individual.
One case that was recorded this year is Enterovirus 71 (EV71). Though the patient was recovered, EV71 is known for causing severe complications such as lung infections (pneumonitis), brain infection (encephalitis) and heart muscle infections (myocarditis).
Daniel Gooi has urged parents and caregivers to practice good hygiene and be extra cautious to prevent any infections. Important health advice includes,
- Frequent Handwashing with sanitizer or soap,
- Keeping infected individual at home avoiding areas like schools/daycare
- Avoiding public areas
- Early medical attention (if any individual is showing symptoms such as fever and rashes)
He also advised operators of daycares and early childhood areas to implement entry screenings, regular sanitization, and immediate reporting of any HFMD clusters to the nearest District Health Office. With no extremely dangerous ICU cases or fatalities so far, health officials remain focused on preventive measures and early detection to control the outbreak.
