37,368 HFMD cases logged nationwide

MANILA, Philippines — Up to 37,368 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have been reported in the country since January, according to the Department of Health.

Data from the DOH showed the figure, recorded as of Aug. 9, is almost 750 percent higher than the 5,081 cases reported during the same period in 2024.

A majority of the cases are children aged one to three years, health officials said.

HFMD is a highly contagious viral disease commonly affecting children below five years old.

Most cases are mild, self-limiting and non-fatal, but may progress to meningitis, encephalitis and polio-like paralysis if left unattended.

The disease can spread through direct contact with infected people as well as droplets or objects with HFMD virus.

Symptoms of the disease include fever that may last from one to two days, mouth sores, rashes and blisters in the hands, feet and buttocks.

A person infected with HFMD must be isolated for seven to 10 days until the fever subsides, and the blisters and rashes disappear.

The DOH said that utensils and other personal belongings used by the patient must be separated and cleaned thoroughly.

After the patient recovered from the disease, the isolation room must be disinfected.

Health experts advised the public to wash hands regularly with soap and water, disinfect surfaces and wear protective equipment such as face masks, gloves and laboratory gown when attending to an HFMD patient.

“It is important to teach children the proper way of handwashing, especially if they were exposed to patients with HFMD,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.

Leptospirosis cases drop

Meanwhile, a significant drop in the number of leptospirosis cases has been recorded nationwide.

The DOH said that only 18 leptospirosis cases were reported from Aug. 17 to 21.

“Although it is possible for the figure to change, this is way lower than the 1,112 cases recorded a week after the onslaught of tropical storms Crising, Dante and Emong from Aug. 3 to 9,” the DOH said.

The storms spawned flooding, which caused the number of leptospirosis cases to spike.

Up to 4,436 cases have been reported since June 8 or a week after the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration declared the start of the rainy season.

The DOH said the number of cases are declining in state-run hospitals such as the Tondo Medical Center and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, which reported only seven and one new admissions, respectively, in the past few days. The East Avenue Medical Center reported no new cases.

The DOH said fast lanes have been established in hospitals to attend to patients with leptospirosis.