Four child centres in Malacca ordered to close over HFMD

MALACCA: Four child care centres in the districts of Alor Gajah and Malacca Centre have been ordered to be closed temporarily due to the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).
State Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman Low Chee Leong said 10 HFMD cases were reported at three child care centres in Alor Gajah and two cases at a child care centre in Malacca Centre.
"The child care centre have been ordered to close for 10 days, with the one in Malacca Centre since July 3 and the one in Alor Gajah on July 5,16 and 17, respectively," he told reporters here today.
Low said a total of 1,280 HFMD cases had been reported in Malacca between Jan 1 and July 21 this year, with 583 cases reported in the Malacca Centre district, Alor Gajah (454) and Jasin (243).
He said 80% of the cases involved children below the age of seven.
So far, no death due to HFMD has been reported in the state, he added. — Bernama