The Centre for Health Protection calls on people to remain vigilant against hand, foot and mouth disease and enterovirus-71 infections as it has received increasing reports of outbreaks of these illnesses recently.

So far this month, the centre has received twenty-one reports of outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease in institutions. In January and February, it had received only about 11 such reports.

It has also received seven reports of enterovirus-71 infections so far this year.

Its surveillance system based at childcare centres and kindergartens has recently detected a significant increase in the diseases' activity.

The centre has sent letters to childcare centres, kindergartens, schools and doctors to alert them of situations concerning hand, foot and mouth disease and EV71.

It publishes a weekly update, 'The EV SCAN', on its website to summarise the diseases' latest statistics.

Click here for the centre's health tips concerning the diseases.