Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
OVERVIEW OF HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease whose main clinical symptoms include mouth ulcers and vesicles on the hands, feet and mouth. The infection occurs most often in children, but can occur in adolescents and occasionally in adults. In most cases, the disease is mild and self limiting, but more severe clinical presentation with neurological symptoms such as meningitis, encephalitis and polio-like paralysis may occur.HFMD is caused by a group of non-polio enteroviruses, particularly those viruses belonging to the Human Enterovirus species A (HEV-A). Of these, enterovirus 71 (EV71) is more commonly linked with severe symptoms, including central nervous system disorders, and fatal cases resulting from pulmonary edema in a small proportion of children, particularly those aged 5 years and younger. Outbreaks of HFMD have occurred every two to three years in different Member States across the Western Pacific Region over the last two decades. Occurrence of EV71 as the dominant strain in the outbreak has been a little more sporadic. However, when EV71 is dominant, more cases have severe consequences resulting in higher morbidity and mortality and a greater burden on the public health system.
Situation Updates (10 February 2012)
Data up to end of week ending 29 January 2012; latest data variable by country.
Hong Kong (China), Japan, Macao (China) and Republic of Korea are seeing low HFMD activity. Singapore has reported slight increase in number of cases from December 2011.
China: 1 638 743 HFMD cases (506 deaths) reported during Jan – 31 Dec 2011; the monthly reported number of cases peaked in Jun, and there was a brief increase in the number of reported cases in November. 126 679 cases in December, 171 805 cases in November 2011, 122 491 cases in October 2011.
Hong Kong (China): Overall level remains low. Seven hospitalized HFMD inpatients reported by Hospital Authority up to 28 Jan in 2012. Based on sentinel surveillance system among general out-patient clinics 0.0 cases per 1 000 consultations and among general practitioners 0.0 cases per 1 000 consultations for week ending 28 Jan 2012.
Macao (China) Overall level remains low. 1 181 HFMD cases reported during Jan – 16 Dec in 2011.
Japan: Surveillance for HFMD is conducted through sentinel report units. 2 349 cases were reported up to 29 Jan in 2012 from sentinel reporting units; trend in reported number of cases remain low; 560 cases (0.18 cases per sentinel) reported 23-29 Jan 2012.
Republic of Korea: Surveillance for HFMD is conducted through sentinel reporting units. Based on sentinel surveillance system activity remains low; 0.4 cases per 1 000 outpatients for the week 15-21 Jan 2012 and 0.4 cases per 1 000 outpatients reported up to week ending 21 Jan in 2012.
Singapore: Reported number of cases continuing to remain low but slight increase since Dec; 1 511 HFMD cases reported up to 28 Jan in 2012; 375 cases during 22-28 Jan 2012, which is below the warning level (603 cases/week).
Viet Nam: 2 857 cases with 2 deaths have been reported from across 53 provinces through 29 Jan in 2012. During 21-29 Jan 2012, 173 cases with no death reported. The numbers of HFMD cases have declined considerably in the past month.
Past Situation Updates
10 February 2012
25 January 2012
12 January 2012
20 December 2011
6 December 2011
22 November 2011
8 November 2011
25 October 2011
11 October 2011
29 September 2011
14 September 2011
30 August 2011
17 August 2011
4 August 2011
Last update: 15 January 2012
Fact sheets
No fact sheets available at this time.
News and press releases
13 July 2009
Hand, foot and mouth disease a rising menace in Asia
[full text]
Relevant publications and documents
Upcoming meetings and events
No meeting/event planned at this time.