In a new move to contain the deadly hand, foot and mouth disease, the Sarawak government has ordered primary school students to stay away from classes.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan said the students in primary one to three from the state's 1,256 schools would not have to come to school for a week from March 20.

"Standard one, two and three classes are ordered to be closed from March 20," he was quoted as saying by Bernama yesterday.

Schools nationwide are now enjoying their annual week-long holiday which ends March 19.

So far seven children have died in the state.

Chan said a total of 4,827 cases of the disease has been reported in the state since the epidemic started early this year.

Keep children at home

The disease has also been detected in the neighbouring country of Brunei, where it has killed one child.

Health authorities have urged parents to keep their children at home, while Malaysia's Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek has suggested that children below the age of 10 stay away from Peninsular Malaysia to curb the spread of the disease.

Hand, foot and mouth disease causes painful mouth and throat ulcers, blisters on hands and feet and fever.

Sarawak has been hit periodically by the disease. In the worst outbreak in 1997, the state recorded 31 fatalities.