Singapore is on the verge of a outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), the Health Ministry's figures show.

The ministry's latest weekly bulletin said 585 people came down with the virus last week, up from 409 the previous week.

HFMD affects mostly very young children, although adults can catch the virus. Symptoms include fever, sore throat, sores, ulcers in the mouth, and rashes on the palms, soles and buttocks.

While rarely fatal, complications do occur. And the Health Ministry's surveillance shows that most of the recent cases are caused by Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a more deadly strain of the group of viruses that causes HFMD. EV71 is known to lead to complications such as infection of the brain, heart, and lungs.

HFMD, which is transmitted through bodily fluids like saliva, is endemic and outbreaks occur regularly. There is no cure or vaccine for it, so the best way to prevent its spread is to have good hygiene practices.

These include washing hands before eating and after going to the toilet, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing.

So far, 3,721 people have caught the virus this year - 50 per cent more than for the same period last year. Several children from NTUC Childcare were hit.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times.