The public are advised not to be overly worried about the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease (HFM) as the situation is under control.

Deputy Director-General of Health Ministry Dr Mohamad Taha Arif told malaysiakini today that parents should not be too worried over the death of an eight-month boy in Johor Bahru yesterday as he had been admitted to hospital two weeks ago and therefore was not a "new" case.

"We have embarked on preventive action early, for example, by advising parents on preventive measures. The situation is under control as the number of new cases is declining," said Mohd Taha.

Amirul Fitri Mohamad Nooh, who died without gaining consciousness in the intensive care unit of the Sultanah Aminah Hospital at 2.45pm, was admitted on Oct 6 in a coma with blisters in his mouth and spots on his hands and feet.

Mohd Taha confirmed that the boy did not go to any nursery home.

Since Sept 1 and as of Thursday, Johor has recorded a total of 582 cases with symptoms of the disease.

Impossible to stop disease

According a New Straits Times report yesterday, in Johor Baru, State Executive Councillor for Family Development, Women's Affairs and Health, Halimah Saddique, said about 500 officers would be sent to check on the cleanliness of all 525 kindergartens and childcare centres which were ordered closed since Oct 12. To-date, 63 nurseries and 280 kindergartens have closed in Johor Bahru.

He said that the ministry and the National Unity and Social Development Ministry will check all nurseries and kindergartens in Johor to ensure that the hygiene standards are up to mark.

"Believe us, we have the best people to handle the case," Mohd Taha said. He said it is not necessary to close down all public swimming pools as long as parents do not bring their children to the public area.

He said that it is impossible to stop the HFM disease spreading from Singapore as many Malaysians are working in Singapore.But the ministry has taken the necessary preventive measures and the situation is under control, he stressed.

"We are not blaming the kindergartens and nurseries, but hygiene is the main issue involved here. We found that most of them are in poor sanitary conditions," said Mohd Taha.

Last Friday, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has called on the health and education ministries to immediately close all kindergartens and childcare centres throughout the country to curb the HFM disease[#1] (Close all childcare centres, government urged[/#], Oct 13).

On the same day, over 3,000 kindergartens and childcare centres under the National Unity and Social Development Ministry were ordered to close by minister Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman; however, the order was retracted by Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi the next day.