Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Detection Rate Reaches 84% in Gwangju... Alert Issued for Infections Among Infants and Young Children

28.6% in the third week of June, surging to 100% in the fourth week
Average of 84% in July... Hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak continues
"No vaccine available... Handwashing and environmental disinfection are the best measures"

Recently, as temperatures have risen in the Gwangju area, there has been an outbreak of enterovirus infections such as hand, foot, and mouth disease, prompting the need for heightened caution.

According to the Gwangju Institute of Health and Environment on August 6, the detection rate for hand, foot, and mouth disease was only 28.6% in the third week of June, but it surged to 100% in the fourth week. The high detection rates continued into July, with 93.3% in the first week, 86.7% in the second week, 76% in the third week, and 83.3% in the fourth week, averaging 84%.

Changes in the weekly proportion of suspected hand, foot, and mouth disease patients by year. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of cases has been rapidly increasing, especially showing a sharp rise after the third week of June.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease generally tends to increase from June, when temperatures rise, and it occurs most frequently in infants and young children aged 0 to 6. The virus is transmitted through contact with the feces or respiratory secretions of an infected person, or through contaminated toys, utensils, or food.

The main symptoms include vesicular rashes on the hands, feet, and inside the mouth, accompanied by fever, headache, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the patient is unable to consume water or food, this can lead to dehydration. Most cases recover within 7 to 10 days after medication, but in rare cases, severe complications such as meningitis or encephalitis may occur, so special attention is required.

Jung Hyuncheol, director of the Gwangju Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "There is currently no preventive vaccine or specific treatment for enterovirus infections," and added, "Since infections are especially common among infants and young children, the best preventive measures in group settings such as daycare centers and kindergartens are proper handwashing and hygiene management, including disinfecting toys and the environment."