HANOI, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's southern hub Ho Chi Minh City has reported a surge in hand-foot-mouth disease, with 32,637 cases recorded since early this year, up 64 percent year-on-year, local daily Tuoi Tre reported Thursday.
From Nov. 17 to 23, the city logged 1,547 cases, an increase of 15 percent compared to the average of the previous four weeks, according to the municipal Department of Health.
Tang Chi Thuong, the department's director, said the Enterovirus 71 (EV71) pathogen had re-emerged in November, linked to severe hand-foot-mouth disease cases.
Among 18 severe cases admitted to a children's hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, 10 tested positive for Enterovirus 71.
Thuong stressed the need to strengthen prevention measures in the community and at schools. ■
