HFMD cases surge sharply across multiple Vietnamese provinces

The Ministry of Health’s Department of Disease Control recently issued an official dispatch to provincial and municipal health departments, urging stronger measures to prevent and control increased HFMD outbreaks.

According to the national infectious disease surveillance system, nearly 54,000 HFMD cases were recorded nationwide in the first nine months of 2025.

Over the past four weeks, the number of cases has climbed remarkably in multiple localities, including Hanoi, Quang Ngai, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, An Giang, and Vinh Long.

The contagious disease, caused by Coxsackievirus and Enterovirus 71, predominantly affects children under 10, who account for 98.6 percent of cases.

Those aged one to five, typically attending nurseries and kindergartens, make up 93.4 percent of infections.

Both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi have recently seen a noticeable rise in HFMD cases among young children, with some patients developing severe complications requiring intensive care.

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control reported nearly 1,500 HFMD cases from November 3 to 9, a 42-percent increase compared with the average of the previous four weeks.

Since the start of 2025, the cumulative number of cases in the city has reached 29,395, with districts such as Con Dao, Nha Be, and Binh Tan reporting the highest incidence rates per 100,000 residents.

In Hanoi, authorities recorded 116 HFMD cases across 61 wards last week, bringing the year-to-date total to 5,693, a rise of 2,368 cases compared with the same period in 2024.

At Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City, pediatric wards are treating dozens of children daily, many of whom come from both the city and surrounding provinces such as Dong Nai and Tay Ninh.

Dr. Tieu Chau Thy, deputy head of the hospital’s infectious disease department, said the number of cases has doubled in just ten days, with around 40–50 children treated weekly, including moderate to severe cases.

Some patients have required intensive care, including mechanical ventilation, due to complications from Enterovirus 71, a strain more likely to cause severe illness.

HFMD spreads rapidly in group settings through saliva, nasal secretions, blister fluid, and feces. Children attending daycare or preschool for the first time are particularly vulnerable because of their lack of immunity.

Dr. Thy emphasized that even children in clean home environments can become infected through contact with neighbors or family members carrying the virus.

Typical symptoms include mild fever, red rashes or blisters on the hands, feet, knees, or buttocks, and mouth ulcers, often causing irritability and loss of appetite.

Severe complications can include encephalitis, meningitis, or cardiovascular and respiratory issues, which can be fatal without prompt and appropriate treatment.

Health officials advise that children who contract HFMD should be isolated at home for 7–10 days and kept out of school to prevent further transmission.

Parents and teachers are urged to maintain strict hygiene, disinfect toys and surfaces, and ensure regular handwashing with soap.

Early detection and timely medical care are crucial for reducing complications.

Although HFMD can occur year-round, incidence typically peaks from March to May and September to December.