South Korea sees hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease cases double in a month

South Korea’s disease control agency reported that the proportion of suspected hand‑foot‑and‑mouth disease (HFMD) patients more than doubled over the past four weeks, rising from 8.9 per 1,000 outpatient visits in week 24 to 19.4 in week 27. The surge is most pronounced among children aged 0‑6, with a rate of 27.2 per 1,000. HFMD is a viral illness that typically resolves in 7‑10 days but can lead to severe complications such as meningitis or encephalitis. No specific treatment exists; care focuses on symptom relief. The agency urged thorough hand‑washing for at least 30 seconds after outings, bathroom use, meals, and diaper changes, and advised keeping children out of day‑care centers, kindergartens, kid‑café, or swimming facilities if symptoms appear.