Never got cake

Madam Roslinda, an administrative executive, cried as she recounted how they had intended to surprise her son with his favourite chocolate cake that day.

'We wanted to celebrate his birthday and had made plans to go to Malacca again this weekend,' she said.

'But he left us before I could even buy him the cake or sing him a birthday song.'

Muhammad Shahril's biological father died in a road accident seven years ago.

The boy had two brothers, aged 8 and 11, and two stepsisters, 3 and 2.

Madam Roslinda recalled how her eldest child was upset and disappointed with his PSLE score.

She said: 'He told me he could have done a lot better. He was very upset that he couldn't get into the express stream because he was short of six points.

'But I encouraged him and told him that mummy and daddy were satisfied with his results.'

Madam Roslinda then went to buy her son a Sony PSP that day.

'I had promised to buy the PSP for him if he had scored more than 180. I specially bought him the limited-edition PSP that was red because I knew he liked red,' said a sobbing Madam Roslinda.

'It was also his birthday present. He was very happy and broke into a wide smile. But he didn't get to play much as he was ill and feeling weak then.'

The active boy also liked playing soccer and hockey.

'We didn't think it (HFMD) was fatal. We thought he would pull through. He was still so young...'

Muhammad Shahril was buried at Choa Chu Kang Muslim cemetery yesterday afternoon.

HFMD QUICK FACTS

• NUMBER OF VICTIMS

About 12,000 children caught hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) this year.

Close to 30 per cent of infections were caused by the virulent enterovirus 71, or EV71.

• ABOUT THE DISEASE

Usually a mild childhood illness that causes rash and blister spots on hands, feet and buttocks, and sores in the mouth and throat.

About 80 viruses responsible, but EV71 is particularly feared as it is behind most of the seven deaths during the 2001-2001 outbreak here.

• INFECTIOUS?

Yes, it spreads quickly among young children who share toys, which many put in their mouths.

The virus is passed through bodily fluids like saliva.

• CONTROLLING THE SPREAD

A school or childcare centre will be temporarily shut down if the virus is active for more than 15 days and more than 13 children at the school or centre are affected.

Ministry of Health tightened its rules after a rise in the number of EV71 cases.

• FIGHTING THE VIRUS

Good personal hygiene can cut transmission of the EV71virus.

Parents are urged to consult a doctor early if their child is suspected to have HFMD.

This story was first published in The New Paper on Dec 2, 2008.