BENTONG, MALAYSIA: There has not been any unusual increase in cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and Malaysia remains vigilant over the recent outbreak in Singapore.

Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said yesterday an average of 114 cases were reported weekly with a total number of 1,943 people having being infected so far this year.

"The situation is normal. But we have to control it and stop the spread," he told reporters yesterday after visiting Bentong Hospital.

He said steps included monitoring at all entry points to the country.

It was reported last week that there had been 7,560 confirmed cases of HFMD in Singapore since the start of the year.

There was no increase in cases in Johor, where an average of 10 cases were reported weekly, said Liow.

From the 90 samples taken to identify the virus, only five tested positive for the Enterovirus 71 (EV71), he said.

"We will ensure the disease does not come into Johor or Malaysia," he said.

HFMD is an infectious disease that can easily spread by direct contact with an infected person.

While it can affect people of any age, the majority of those vulnerable are children below the age of five. The incubation period is between three and five days followed by symptoms such as fever, sore throat, rashes with blister on the palms, feet and mouth.

"Parents, please take care of their hygiene. Infected children should not be brought to public places or to daycare centres until they recover. Take them to a doctor for treatment," Liow added.

On a recent media report that the ministry would experiment with the release of genetically modified Aedes mosquitoes in Pulau Ketam, Liow said there were no plans to carry out such trials.