VietNamNet Bridge – Hand-foot-mouth disease has claimed the lives of 130 people so far this year after spreading to 63 cities and provinces across the country.

A doctor checks a child with hand-foot-mouth disease at the National Children's Hospital. (Photo: VNS)

Symptoms include pustules on the feet, hands and in the mouth; a fever-like temperature; vomiting and diarrhoea.

The latest provinces where the disease has been detected are Tuyen Quang and Cao Bang in the north.

In the last week alone, there were 5,200 new patients of the disease and 11 deaths.

Last year, there were 11,000 reported cases of the disease and six deaths, according to the department.

Nguyen Van Binh, the department's director, said 2011 marked the highest year-on-year increase in hand-foot-mouth disease infections.

The Ministry of Health has been active in trying to control the spread of the disease, but ultimately it was up to each individual to improve hygiene standards and curb infection, Binh said, adding that most of the infections and fatalities had occured in the south of the country.

However, no epidemic warnings have been issued because health authorities were managing to cope with the outbreak, he said.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Tan Duc, deputy director of central Quang Ngai Province's of Health, said the rate of hand-foot-mouth infections had increased month by month in the province.

"We will declare an epidemic when it is beyond our control capacity," he said.

So far this year, there have been 6,100 reported outbreaks of the disease and five fatalities in the province. The infection rate was 45 times higher than the same period last year, Duc said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News