Xinhua News
The number of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases is on the rise in Singapore with some 900 cases reported last week alone, local media reported on Friday.
This brings the total number of cases since the start of this year to 18,000, or 67 percent higher compared to the same period last year, local TV broadcaster Channel NewsAsia reported.
Of the cases notified this year, about 65 percent occurred in children aged less than five years old.
The Health Ministry said its surveillance has also detected an increase in the circulation of Enterovirus 71 (EV71) among HFMD patients.
The ministry said HFMD due to EV71 has been associated with increased disease severity and even death.
Twelve percent of the patient samples testing positive for EV71 in July.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-08/13/c_13443864.htm