The figure is 50 per cent more than the 780-per-week number required for a disease to be considered an epidemic threat.
The 780-per-week mark was already reached in mid-February and has since steadily increased. The last time the number of HFMD cases crossed 1,000 a week was at the end of August 2010.
Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday ordered two more childcare centres to close because of the spread of HFMD cases among its children.
Little Footies in Serangoon Gardens and Pat's Schoolhouse in Meyer Road are the latest among eight childcare centres and kindergartens forced to be shut so far this year.
Another 10 are on the watchlist.
When told to shut, the centres must close for 10 days in an attempt to break the chain of transmission.
HFMD, which commonly affects children, can cause symptoms such as fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers and blisters on palms and feet. These last between four and five days, and a child will be well enough to return to school after nine days. There is no vaccine or medication to prevent or cure the viral infection.
MOH says it will continue to monitor the situation.
ORIGINAL SOURCE
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