Cases of hand-foot-mouth disease have been rising rapidly, primarily among infants and young children under the age of 6, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. Ahead of the peak season, the agency urged people to strictly observe personal hygiene rules such as hand-washing and disinfection at group facilities including daycare centers and kindergartens.
According to the results of hand-foot-mouth disease sentinel surveillance released by the KDCA on Thursday, the proportion of suspected cases in the 22nd week of this year (May 25-31) was 4.3 per 1,000 outpatients. The figure marked a third consecutive week of increase, following 1.7 in the 20th week and 2.3 in the 21st week.
In particular, the proportion of suspected cases among infants and young children aged 0 to 6 was 5.9 per 1,000, roughly double the figure from the previous week (2.9). The KDCA forecast that case numbers will continue to rise for the time being, given that hand-foot-mouth disease typically increases from May each year and peaks between June and September.
Hand-foot-mouth disease is an acute viral illness caused by enterovirus infection, including coxsackievirus A16. Along with fever, it produces blistering rashes on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Infection can occur through direct contact with an infected person's saliva, nasal discharge, phlegm, blister fluid, or feces, or by touching contaminated objects. The risk of transmission is known to be especially high in group settings such as daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools.
To prevent hand-foot-mouth disease, the KDCA stressed that people should wash their hands with soap for at least 30 seconds after going out, after using the toilet, before and after meals, and before and after changing diapers, and should thoroughly disinfect items children frequently touch, such as toys, play equipment, and door handles. The agency also urged that anyone showing suspected symptoms visit a medical institution for treatment and refrain from attending facilities or going out until they recover.
"At childcare facilities and schools, please thoroughly manage hygiene, including proper hand-washing and disinfection of items, and ensure that infants, young children, and students who have contracted hand-foot-mouth disease return only after they have fully recovered," KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan said.
