SINGAPORE, March 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Singapore is now concerned about the number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which is on the rise in the country since the beginning of this year.

    According to Channel NewsAsia reports on Sunday night, a total of 2017 such cases have been reported in the country so far, with some 75 percent of them being tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a dangerous virus which can cause complications involving human being's heart and brain, and result in death.

    The weekly average number of HFMD cases has increased to 331 per week in March from 174 per week in February.

    Seven people died in 2000 when the disease first broke out in the city state.

    Young children are believed to be the most susceptible with two-thirds of the cases in the country aged less than five years.

    Infected children were urged to stay at home and avoid all contact with other children, and not attend childcare centers or schools.

    The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports has also sent out advisories to childcare center operators on how to manage an infectious disease outbreak.

    The school or childcare center will be closed when there are more than 18 cases occurred in the same place and there is a transmission period of more than 21 days.

    The Education Ministry or other relevant authority should also be informed if there are two or more cases in the same one school or childcare center. Enditem