Therefore, he urged operators of the premises to immediately report such cases to JKNM.

He said operators who failed to report the matter immediately could be subject to court action under Act 342.

“HFMD can often go away on its own but sometimes it will lead to severe complications like myocarditis or inflammation of the heart muscle and that is what we fear most.

“If there are more than four cases reported, the premises will be closed and if there are only two cases but we find many children in the premises have fever but no blisters, we will also close the premises,” he told reporters after participating in the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 (PPKHT) enforcement operation here last night.

Rusdi said HFMD cases in Melaka showed an increasing trend and as of Wednesday, 1,633 cases were recorded and 20 premises were ordered to close.

Of the total, he said 772 cases were reported in the Melaka Tengah district, while Alor Gajah recorded 516 cases and Jasin (345 cases). Six nurseries, seven kindergartens, one preschool, four private houses and two childcare centres were ordered to close so far.

On Wednesday alone, the cases registered in the three districts in Melaka were above the epidemic level, namely 148 cases in Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah (83 cases) and Jasin (24).