A total of 11 children were hospitalised as at 10 this morning after 49 new cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFM) were detected in Sarawak.

According to Bernama, 13 cases were reported in Miri, followed by Sibu with seven and Kuching and Limbang with six each while Bintulu had four.

The news agency quoted Deputy Chief Minister Dr George Chan as saying that none of the cases was serious.

26 treated in hospitals

With the latest figures, the HFM infections since the outbreak in Sibu in February had increased to 10,454, with Sibu recording the highest number at 2,526, followed by Miri (1,919), Kuching (1,353), Bintulu (1,299), Sarikei (913), and Mukah (757), he said in Kuching.

So far, the disease had claimed 10 lives.

Twenty-six children were being treated in hospitals, Chan said, adding that the number of children warded since the outbreak was 2,096.