SINGAPORE (Reuters) -
Singapore is on the verge of a hand,
foot and mouth disease outbreak, the Straits Times reported on
Saturday, quoting government health officials.

The paper said 553 people were afflicted with the virus
last week, up from 415 the week before. Last week's figure was
just 12 fewer than the Health Ministry's official “epidemic
level.”

Hand, foot and mouth disease, which is treatable, usually
affects children and causes fever and rashes on the hands, feet
and buttocks. A three-year child died earlier this month in the
city-state.

The disease has this year killed 44 people in China, 10 in
Taiwan and 11 in Vietnam.

(Reporting by Kevin Lim; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)