Tracking of Children Contracting Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health whether the Ministry will reconsider its policy of not tracking the number or percentage of children who have contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and the number of times they have contracted the disease.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is not notifiable to the Ministry of Health as it is a common childhood illness that is usually mild and self-limiting. Hence, the numbers are not tracked. Nevertheless, we have a sentinel surveillance programme for HFMD involving selected hospitals, polyclinics and general practitioner clinics, to monitor trends in polyclinic attendances, severe cases requiring admission and the types of circulating pathogens.