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    30 April 2012| last updated at 04:54PM

    Health dept cautions against HFMD recurrent outbreak



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    Kuching: The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases reported in Sarawak has generally decreased.

    Nevertheless, the public have been advised to practise good hygiene and avoid crowded public places to prevent a recurrent outbreak, especially during the coming school holidays and Gawai Dayak festival.

    Sarawak Health Department's crisis preparedness and response centre senior assistant director Dr Noorzilawati Sahak said, all divisions showed a decreasing trend, except for Samarahan, Bintulu, and Sibu during the previous week, from April 22-28.

    As of April 28, the cumulative number of cases stood at 5,445, as compared to 637 within the same period last year, with the Kuching division recording the
    highest number at 1,973, followed by Samarahan (657), Bintulu (612), Miri (438), Sarikei (328), Limbang (327), Betong (278), Sri Aman (251), Sibu (231), Mukah (177), and Kapit (173).

    Dr Noorzilawati said this today, when giving the weekly HFMD update. She said, last week also saw 357 new cases reported, an increase of 12 per
    cent from the previous week, while the number of new admissions reported was 23 during the week under review from 37 previously, bringing the cumulative number to 439.

    At the time, she said, three institutions were still temporarily closed, with two closure orders being served on Tabika Kemas Sebemban and Taska Permata
    Kemas St Augustine Betong District. -- Bernama

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