SINGAPORE: The worst may be over for the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak, if the latest number of reported cases is anything to go by.

A total of 68 cases were reported on Thursday and as of 3pm on Friday, 62 cases were reported.

These figures were sharply lower from the numbers in previous reports - especially from the peak of 370 cases in a single day, on Apr 21.

So far this year, 10,176 cases have been reported.

Fifteen childcare and preschool centres have been ordered to shut down, with another 44 centres asked to close voluntarily for ten days to break the chain of transmission.


- CNA/so

• Noting dehydration symptoms can save a child's life • 21 HFMD cases required hospitalisation last week • HFMD cases hit record high of 1,466 last week, more centres to close • Health Ministry concerned about prevalence of HFMD's EV71 strain • Experts say parents, caregivers at risk of contracting HFMD