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HFMD cases near 40,200 in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR — The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Malaysia has increased further with 40,198 cases reported on Wednesday (Aug 1) according to the health ministry figures.

KUALA LUMPUR — The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Malaysia has increased further with 40,198 cases reported on Wednesday (Aug 1) according to the health ministry figures.

The country's Health Minister Zulkefly Ahmad said the number peaked over 39,000 on Tuesday, citing the ministry has not considered shutting down all schools in the seriously affected states.

"At this stage there is no need to do an aggressive intervention like shutting down schools and nurseries, prevention and pre-emptive measures suffice to put this outbreak under control.

"What's important is to upheld firmly gatekeeping procedures like the point of entry of premises.

"It is important for teachers in pre-schools and nurseries to make sure everything is properly cleaned and sanitised, and parents to refrain taking their children in public crowded areas," he said after visiting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on Wednesday.

The minister is in Sabah and attended briefings on all operations under the ministry's purview in the State.

He said the number of HFMD cases in Sabah had also increased to 2,200 cases, averaging around 73 new cases each week.

"To date, all Sabah districts have recorded HFMD, but Kota Kinabalu, Beaufort, Sandakan and Penampang recorded higher number of cases than the others," he said.

Out of the 35 schools closed down due to HFMD, nine schools are in Sabah, he said. THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

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