Nearly 5,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have been reported in Sarawak and eight children have died since, revealed the Health Ministry today.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat that the outbreak was caused by a lack of public awareness about the disease.

"The cases are high because public awareness is low," he said in winding up the debate on an emergency motion on the disease filed by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) this evening.

"It is very easy to avoid the disease by practising hygienic habits like washing hands and not having contact with (a patient)," he added.

Below 10 only

Latiff said the government had no plans to close down all primary schools in Sarawak as the disease only affects children below 10.

In his speech earlier, Chong called on the government to close all primary schools.

The Sarawak state government has ordered primary school students from standard one to three to stay away from classes beginning March 20.

However, Latiff remained tightlipped when asked if the government would compensate nurseries and kindergartens which were ordered to close.

Unhappy with the deputy minister's reply, Chong said the answers gave the impression that the ministry does not have any concrete plans to combat the disease.

"There is nothing in your answer. There's no concrete solution," he added

Rebutting this, Latiff said the opposition MP had not listened to his reply carefully as it provided solutions.

Sarawak suffered outbreaks of the disease in 1997, 2000 and 2003, in what officials said was a three-year cycle. The 1997 outbreak killed 31 people.

On March 8, the government declared that an outbreak of the disease in Sarawak had escalated into an epidemic with some 200 cases being reported daily.