Sarawak has recorded a sharp increase in suspected cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, prompting further calls to isolate children at home.

Sarawak state deputy chief minister George Chan Hong Nam said 211 cases of the disease were recorded in children under five while health officials told AFP parents had been urged to suspend gatherings such as birthday parties.

"With the detection of the new cases, there are now 2,361 registered cases in Sarawak," Chan was quoted as saying in the Star daily.

He said four children had died from the disease, which mostly affects infants and young children. Symptoms include fever, mouth ulcers and rashes.

"Two have been confirmed to be due to the entrovirus 11 strain or EV11 while another two are still being investigated," he said, referring to one of 67 strains of viruses that can cause the disease.

He said an average of over 200 suspected cases were being reported daily in the state, in Malaysia's east, said the New Straits Times .

The Health Ministry on Friday ordered the immediate closure of 488 Sarawak kindergartens for two weeks to curb its spread of the disease, reportedly taking nurseries and kindergartens by surprise.

Health Minister Chua Soi Lek said 942 cases had been recorded between Jan 1 and Feb 18, compared to only 270 in the same period last year.

Keep children at home

The ministry's director for disease control, Ramlee Rahmat said authorities had noted the increase in cases of the disease, which is endemic to Malaysia, from about January.

"There is a slight increase in the number of hand, foot-and-mouth cases compared to last year," Ramlee told AFP .

"Because of that, we have to take some proactive steps to control the increase in the number of cases, that's why they need to close down the kindergartens," he said.

Chan said parents had been advised to keep their children at home and to hold off on any gatherings, such as birthday parties.

"It is better not to have close contact for the time-being," he said.

"Dont organise any activities that can bring children into close contact with one another in a large group."

Sarawak, located on Borneo island, had a major outbreak of hand, foot and mouth in 1997, which resulted in 31 fatalities. The state also suffered outbreaks in 2000 and 2003.