South Gyeongsang Province said on the 6th that, as highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease has been spreading rapidly nationwide among infants and toddlers, caution is needed against cluster infections through crowded facilities such as kids cafes.

According to South Gyeongsang Province, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency sentinel surveillance showed that in week 30 of 2026 (July 19~25) the provincial hand, foot and mouth disease suspected case rate was 17.7 per 1,000 outpatients. Following 0.0 in week 19 (second week of May), 3.6 in week 23 (first week of June), and 12.2 in week 26 (fourth week of June), it has risen for 12 consecutive weeks.

The national average suspected case rate reached 36.1, and among children aged 0~6 it surged to 48.3, the highest level this year.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an acute viral illness that mainly occurs in children under age five. It spreads through contact with saliva, nasal discharge, fluid from blisters, or stool of infected individuals, or via contaminated toys. After fever, sore throat, and loss of appetite, blisters and rashes appear in the mouth and on the hands and feet within 1~2 days.

The causative coxsackievirus is highly resistant to alcohol, so regular hand sanitizers alone are less effective. At home and in childcare facilities, household bleach (sodium hypochlorite 4%) should be diluted with water at a 1-to-7 ratio to wipe toys and doorknobs. During disinfection, wear a KF94 mask and rubber gloves.

The province urged people to seek medical care immediately when suspicious symptoms appear, and to refrain from attending childcare and entering multiuse facilities until blisters have healed.