Ho Chi Minh City logged 581 cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) last week, soaring 26 percent against the preceding four weeks, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said on Thursday.

The HFMD tally in the southern metropolis reached 5,086 from the beginning of the year through May 26, with District 8, Nha Be District, and Binh Chanh District amongst the hardest hit locales.

HFMD is a common pediatric infectious illness caused by enteroviruses.

Symptoms of the disease include mild to moderate fever, fatigue, sore throat, a skin rash on the palms, feet, knees, and buttocks, and sores on the lining of the cheeks, gums, and tongue.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health says it is always on its guard against possible outbreaks of the infectious disease.

The health authority has closely monitored agents that cause HFMD to enable disease forecasting and provide early outbreak warnings.

It has already drawn out scenarios to cope with possible epidemic developments and has asked healthcare and educational facilities to jointly take preventive measures against HFMD.

There are currently no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines which fight enteroviruses in the country.

Therefore, people should adopt effective preventive and control measures including practicing personal hygiene and improving sanitation in order to minimize disease transmission, the city’s health department advised.

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