Between 15 April and 30 June 1997, 31 previously healthy infants and young children in Sarawak died after a short febrile illness against a background of an outbreak of HFMD in the State. Sibu was badly affected during this outbreak as 11 of the death cases were reported from Sibu followed by Sarikei with 7 death cases. Surveillance of HFMD was initiated by Sarawak Health Department during this outbreak of sudden deaths among young children in Sarawak from 6 June 1997. The surveillance was stopped in December 1997. However, in 1998, following a report of.
