The number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (TCM) in Ho Chi Minh City is showing a marked increase, in accordance with the disease season rules. In week 47, the city recorded 1,547 cases of TCM, an increase of 15% compared to the average of the previous four weeks.
Since the beginning of the year, the total accumulated cases have reached 32,637 cases, 64% higher than in 2024. Although no deaths were recorded, the city has received 65 cases with a severity of grade 2b or higher. Notably, from week 42, the average number of severe cases is 3 cases per week, higher than the beginning of the year. Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are also receiving 640 transfers from other provinces and cities, including 8 severe cases, accounting for 70% of the total number of severe cases being treated in the city.
The emergence of the EV71 agent is a major cause for concern.In November 2025, Children's Hospital 1 tested 18 cases of severe HFMD and found 10 cases positive for EV71 (accounting for 56%).The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) also confirmed that it only started detecting EV71 in early November after monitoring more than 400 samples since the beginning of the year.This shows that the appearance of EV71 is closely related to the time when the number of infected and severe cases simultaneously increased.
However, medical experts recommend that people need to properly understand EV71.This is an agent capable of causing neurological, respiratory, and circulatory complications, causing rapid progression.But EV71 is not a new agent and the disease can be completely controlled if parents recognize the warning signs early.
This increase in the number of cases has not exceeded the epidemic peak in 2023 and Ho Chi Minh City has many years of experience in responding, along with strong pediatric resuscitation capacity.Therefore, people should not panic but must increase their vigilance, especially closely monitoring children within the first 7-10 days of illness.
To cope with this situation, Ho Chi Minh City has tightened epidemic prevention work at all levels.In communities and schools, requirements for inspection and supervision of daycares and kindergartens must be strengthened.Facilities need to arrange adequate soap and hand sanitizer, and provide instructions on proper handling procedures when detecting suspected cases.It is a mandatory requirement that sick children must be absent from school to avoid spreading it in a collective environment.
At HCDC, Regional Health Centers and Commune/Ward Health Stations, the grassroots health system must tighten monitoring and continuously update newly arising outbreaks.Intensive training for medical staff needs to be implemented and uniform guidelines for monitoring and handling outbreaks need to be issued across the city.
At hospitals, we need to be ready to admit and treat severe cases.Hospitals need to activate a quick consultation process when a case worsens and fully report the case on the monitoring system to have data to respond promptly.
People are advised to take 5 key actions to prevent and protect children:
Wash your hands with soap many times a day. Sanitize, disinfect toys, floors and commonly used items. Monitor children continuously for 7-10 days if they are sick. Ensure that children with Ho Chi Minh City disease have to stay home from school to avoid infection. Take your child to the hospital immediately if there are warning signs such as: shaking, shaking, high fever that does not go down, vomiting a lot, rapid breathing, or sluggishness.
