State health and anti-drugs committee chairman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the increase in the number of HFMD cases was reported after the Aidilfitri holidays due to travel movement and the reopening of childcare and kindergarten centres.

“There was an increase of 1,322 cases or 24.6 times compared to the corresponding period last year,” he said in a statement today, adding that 95.5% of the cases involved children below the age of six.

He said eight cases required admission to hospital during the 19th epidemiological week from May 8 to 14, an increase of six compared to the previous week.

Melaka Tengah district recorded 124 cases, an increase of 69 cases from the previous week, while Alor Gajah and Jasin, reported 162 and 115 cases, respectively,

Three clusters were reported, making a total of 16 clusters, with Jasin district recording the highest number of clusters at 11, followed by Melaka Tengah (four) and Alor Gajah (one).

“Kindergartens, nurseries and childcare centres reported the highest number of infections with 12 active clusters,” he said.