HANOI, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam has recorded nearly 100,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in the first eight and a half months of the year, more than 2.5 times the number reported during the same period last year, local daily Ha Noi Moi reported Monday, citing the Ministry of Health.
Over 3,000 new cases have been reported nationwide each week over the past four weeks, with infections concentrated in southern Vietnam, according to the ministry's Vietnam Administration of Disease Prevention.
Vo Hai Son, the administration's deputy director, said the surge coincides with the start of the new school year, when children have more frequent contact and interaction in group settings.
He warned of a high risk of outbreaks and wider transmission if personal hygiene and environmental disinfection measures are not strictly followed and cases are not detected early.
The administration has urged parents, caregivers and educational institutions to strictly follow the "three clean" principle, which includes clean food and water, a clean living environment and clean hands, the report said. ■