Surge in hand, foot, mouth disease cases forces closure of schools in Malaysia's Sabah state

KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A surge in the number of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases among school-aged children in the northern Borneo state of Sabah has forced the temporary closure of five schools, according to health authorities.

More than 4,300 HFMD cases were reported between January to April, with nearly 83 percent involving children under the age of seven, the Sabah Health Department said in a recent statement.

Sabah Health Director Maria Suleiman, a health crisis expert, said the closures were a precautionary measure to allow for thorough cleaning and disinfection of affected premises to break the chain of infection.

"All reported cases have been mild and treated as outpatients. There have been no ICU admissions or deaths," she said, adding that parents have been urged to keep symptomatic children at home and maintain good hygiene by regularly disinfecting commonly used items. Enditem