HCM CITY — Việt Nam detected more 12,200 hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) patients nationwide last month, according to latest statistics by the Ministry of Health.

In southern provinces, the number of patients dramatically increased in August and September, by about 50 per cent compared to previous months.

HCM City’s Pasteur Institute reported that 6 children have died of the disease in southern provinces.

In the first nine months of this year, a total of 42,700 infections were reported nationwide, of which 21,000 have been hospitalised.

Since earlier this year, southern Đồng Nai Province has detected more than 4,000 people infected with HFMD, of which 90 per cent were children. Notably, many districts reported 500 new cases a week, many of which were serious.

In Bình Dương Province, 478 cases were discovered in August, nearly double against previous months.

Meanwhile, HCM City’s Preventive Health Centre said that the number of HFMD patients tended to increase in August and September with over 200 cases, even 300, hospitalised every week.

The city, at present, had a total of 18,700 infectious cases, the centre said.

Serious complication

According to Health Ministry’s Preventive Health Department, HFMD is an acute viral infection transmitted via digestion that mainly affects children.

The disease might cause an outbreak.

HFMD is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the Coxsackie virus (A16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

HFMD caused by Coxsackie virus (A16) is usually mild and children will recover after seven to 10 days.

In Việt Nam, HFMD occurs throughout the year, but the peak season is from March until May and September to December. Children can get HFMD at all ages but children below three years old are more susceptible, as they have not developed immunity against the virus.

HFMD is usually a short mild illness, but in some cases the patient can get complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, and acute pneumochysis, which can cause death if not properly treated.

Doctors advise that people should regularly wash their hands with soap under running water to avoid infection. — VNS