In a statement today, state health committee chairman Daniel Gooi said the 15th epidemiological week saw 579 new cases and four new clusters.

“This rise is believed to have occurred following the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays.

“Nevertheless, the cases reported in Penang showed mild symptoms and were given outpatient treatment. None of them had severe complications or required intensive treatment,” he said.

Last month, Gooi said Penang saw a 409% increase between Jan 1 and March 22 from the same period last year.

He said 3,446 cases were reported during that period this year, up from 677 cases during the same period in 2024.

Gooi said today that as of April 12, Penang had recorded a total of 4,585 HFMD cases, compared with only 879 up to the same date last year.

“Seberang Perai Tengah recorded the most cases at 1,362, followed by Seberang Perai Selatan at 884, Timur Laut at 852, Barat Daya at 845 and Seberang Perai Utara at 642,” he said.

Gooi said he chaired a special meeting this morning with the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business, the Penang Association of Educational Institution Operators, and the state health department to discuss the HFMD situation in the state.

“Several operators spoke of the challenges they face in managing HFMD cases. The state health department will run an analysis on the efficacy of current operations,” he said.