The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health urged the public on October 14 to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, citing a significant recent rise in local hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) activity. The CHP said it would issue letters to schools that day updating them on the situation and asked institutions to report outbreaks immediately.

Surveillance data showed weekly institutional and school outbreaks rising from eight (affecting 27 persons) in mid-September to 12 (41 persons), 11 (26 persons) and 20 (48 persons) in the following three weeks. In the first three days of the week of October 11, nine outbreaks affecting 24 persons were reported. Ninety per cent of outbreaks occurred in childcare centres, kindergartens and primary schools, and sentinel surveillance at childcare centres and kindergartens showed a significant increase over the past week.

The CHP noted that HFMD typically peaks from May to July and October to December. It reminded schools to follow official prevention guidelines and advised that alcohol-based handrub should not replace washing with liquid soap and water, as alcohol does not effectively kill some viruses causing HFMD, such as EV71.