Ho Chi Minh City records over 42,000 hand, foot, mouth disease cases

The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said on Wednesday that Vietnam recorded nearly 100,000 cases nationwide in the first nine months of 2026, more than 2.5 times the number reported during the same period in 2025. Children under five accounted for 87.3 percent of cases.

The localities reporting the highest numbers of cases over the past four weeks were Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Tay Ninh, Lam Dong, Da Nang and Hanoi.

Health authorities forecast that new infections could continue to rise.

In Ho Chi Minh City, cases have surged since the week beginning September 7, with weekly totals exceeding 1,400.

The number of infections has remained above the five-year average threshold for four consecutive weeks.

The detection of 60 EV71-positive samples since the beginning of the year has raised further concern, as the virus can cause severe disease and dangerous complications.

Health officials said that the risk of transmission increases as children return to school and childcare facilities.

Hand, foot and mouth disease spreads primarily through the digestive tract and direct contact with infected individuals.

The virus can also survive on toys, clothing and frequently touched surfaces, allowing it to spread quickly in group settings such as daycare centers and kindergartens.

HCDC recommended the following three hygiene principles: keeping food and drinking water clean, maintaining clean living and learning environments, and washing hands regularly with soap and clean water.

Children and caregivers should wash their hands before preparing food or eating, before feeding or handling children, after using the toilet, and after changing diapers or cleaning children.

Toys, desks, door handles, stair railings and other frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned regularly with soap or ordinary cleaning products.

Parents should watch for symptoms including fever, mouth ulcers and blisters on the palms, soles, buttocks or knees.

Children suspected of having the disease should stay home and receive medical attention.

Infected children should stay home for at least 10 days from the onset of illness, or until mouth ulcers and blisters have cleared.

Parents and caregivers should also ensure that waste and fluid from blisters are handled hygienically.

A vaccine against EV71 is available for children aged six months to five years.

The vaccination schedule consists of two doses at least one month apart.

Parents should consult licensed vaccination providers about eligibility and the appropriate schedule.

HCDC also urged schools to strengthen disease prevention measures, inform parents and teachers about symptoms and transmission, maintain well-ventilated and adequately lit classrooms, clean surfaces according to health authorities’ guidance, check children’s health at the start of the school day, and ensure adequate supplies of soap and clean water.