Ho Chi Minh City mobilizes against hand, foot and mouth disease surge

The southern Vietnamese metropolis has recorded more than 44,000 confirmed cases of hand, foot and mouth disease since the beginning of the year, according to data released by the municipal Department of Health. The figure represents a significant jump of over 65 percent year-on-year, underscoring the scale of the current outbreak affecting the city's population.

The disease has claimed five lives and spawned more than 1,600 separate outbreak incidents across Ho Chi Minh City during the same period. Health authorities have characterized the situation as a mounting public health challenge requiring coordinated prevention and control measures.

In response to the escalating caseload, city officials have stepped up surveillance and prevention initiatives aimed at containing further spread of the highly contagious viral infection. The disease primarily affects young children, causing fever, mouth sores and rashes on the hands and feet.

Health officials have urged residents to maintain strict hygiene practices, ensure proper sanitation in schools and childcare facilities, and seek prompt medical attention for suspected cases. The uptick in infections comes as Vietnam's school year typically begins, a period when crowded educational settings can accelerate disease transmission among vulnerable populations.