HCDC statistics show from February 28 to March 6, the southern metropolis recorded 186 HFMD cases, an increase of 63.5% compared to the average of the previous four weeks.

The cumulative number of HFMD cases from the beginning of 2025 to March 6 stood at 1,294, with Districts 6, 8, and Binh Tan reporting the highest incidence rates per 100,000 people.

During the reviewed period, the city also documented 310 cases of dengue fever and 276 cases of measles, down 30.1% and 12.2%, compared to the average of the previous four weeks, respectively.

Health experts share that HFMD is caused by two common groups of viruses - Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) and Enterovirus EV71.

Infections caused by CA16 generally result in mild symptoms and can be managed at home. However, EV71 infections tend to be more severe, with complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, circulatory collapse, and in severe cases, death. 

The risk of developing severe illness from EV71 is estimated to be 16 times higher than from other HFMD-causing viruses. Notably, it is an infectious disease that mainly occurs in children under five years old. 

A vaccine for HFMD, targeting EV71, is recommended for children aged 2 months to under 6 years. EV71 has been responsible for tens of thousands of severe cases and fatalities among Vietnamese children over the years. According to health professionals, the HFMD vaccine is safe and offers 96.8% protection, providing long-lasting immunity against circulating EV71 strains, regardless of disease severity.

HFM disease claims for lives across southern Vietnam

VOV.VN - Southern provinces have so far recorded more than 9,000 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), including four deaths, according to the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City.