Published Date: 2010-08-15 03:29:17
Subject: PRO/MBDS> Hand, foot & mouth disease - Singapore (03)
Archive Number: 20100815.2810

HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE - SINGAPORE (03)
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Date: Fri 13 Aug 2010
Source: Xinhua News Agency [edited]
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-08/13/c_13443864.htm


The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases is on the
rise in Singapore with some 900 cases reported last week [week of 2
Aug 2010] alone, local media reported on Friday [13 Aug 2010]. This
brings the total number of cases since the start of this year [2010]
to 18 000, or 67 percent higher compared to the same period last year
[2009], local TV broadcaster Channel NewsAsia reported.

Of the cases notified this year [2010], about 65 percent occurred in
children aged less than 5 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. 12 percent of the patient
samples testing positive for EV71 in July [2010].

The current rise in the number of notified HFMD cases is in keeping
with the regional situation.

[Byline: Lin Zhi]

--
Communicated by:
PRO/MBDS


[Although Singapore is not a member of the MBDS region, PRO/MBDS has
been reporting HFMD cases from Singapore as it is geographically
close to the region and HFMD contributes an important disease burden
in the region. As of 29 May 2010, a total of 10 401 cases were
reported during 2010 compared to 8659 cases reported in the same
period of 2009 (see prior PRO/MBDS posting Hand, foot & mouth disease
- Singapore (02) 20100604.1852).

According to the weekly infectious disease bulletin from the Ministry
of Health, Singapore, available at
http://www.moh.gov.sg/mohcorp/uploadedFiles/Statistics/Infectious_Diseases_Bulletin/2010/2010_week_31.pdf,
as of 7 Aug 2010, a total of 18 007 cases were reported during 2010
compared to 10 770 cases reported in the same period of 2009. A total
906 of HFMD cases was reported during week 31 (1-7 Aug 2010) in 2010,
whereas a total 149 cases was reported during the same period in 2009.

Although the newswire does not mention the severity of cases, it does
mention the increase in the circulation of enterovirus 71 (EV71)
among HFMD patients. EV71 has been associated with severe form of
HFMD (see http://www.cdc.gov/NCIDOD/EID/vol9no1/02-0112.htm).

For a map of Singapore and its geographic relation to the MBDS
countries, see
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/southeast_asia_ref_2002.jpg.
For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of Singapore with links to
other ProMED-mail and PRO/MBDS postings and surrounding areas, see
http://healthmap.org/r/02yE. - Mod.SCM]

See Also

Hand, foot & mouth disease - Singapore (02) 20100604.1852
Hand, foot & mouth disease - Singapore: RFI 20100324.0937
2008
----
Hand, foot & mouth disease - Singapore, Malaysia (02) 20080825.2644
Hand, foot & mouth disease - Singapore, Malaysia: RFI 20080508.1569
...................scm/ejp/yma

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