Since early September, hand, foot and mouth disease has been spreading rapidly in HCM City, affecting local nurseries.
According to the HCM Preventive Medicine Department, as of October 9, the city had up to 4,105 children hospitalised for hand, foot and mouth disease treatment. No deaths have yet been reported. The figure was a 54% increase over the preceding month.
A child infected with hand, foot and mouth disease in HCM City
Dozens of children at some pre-schools in the city have been infected by disease such as Hoa Mi 3 school and Tan Hoa school in District 5 and Huong Duong school in Hoc Mon District.
Schools have been requested to sterilise classrooms and toys and provide information to parents so that they can pay attention to the prevention of the disease for their children.
Hand, foot and mouth disease can happen around the year, but it usually peaks in the March to May and September and November periods yearly.
The illness is characterised by a fever and rash most frequently seen on the palms, soles, and inside the mouth, the Vietnamese health ministry said.
The disease can be transmitted through digestive tracts and children under five years old are most vulnerable, the ministry said.
As there are no vaccines or specific medicines to cure the disease, the main preventive measure is ensuring personal hygiene, the ministry advised.
Last year, Vietnam recorded around 50,000 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease nationwide, including five fatalities, all in the south.
The patients have been reported in almost every locality, with the highest number being in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
