Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) Surveillance System

[Jenny Bituin]

In the Philippines, Republic Act 11332, or the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act” classifies Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) as immediately notifiable (Category I). This means that cases should be reported to the Local and Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit and the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health within twenty-four (24) hours from detection.

Last August 2025, the Department of Health reported a 735% increase in HFMD cases, half of which were children one to three years old. There were 37,368 reported cases from January to August 9, 2025; the same period last year (2024), there were only 5,081 cases. Several schools across the Philippines have been reported to suspend face-to-face classes due to rising cases of HFMD. In our municipality, there are also several cases of HFMD, and one child development center had suspended classes for a brief period due to increasing number of suspected HFMD cases.

This HFMD surveillance system aims to:
a) detect HFMD events that indicate an outbreak, cluster of cases, severe cases or deaths,
b) monitor trends, and
c) provide data to support decision-making for effective public health measure.

[Hteik Htar Tin]

Congratulations for your presentation about HFMD, Jen. In our country, HFMD incidences are increasing and is still micmicing other fever with rash infections. I like your system structure to implement and connected to national surveillance unit. I would like to know more about event reporting and evaluation indicator, stability. Could you please share whether the schools will report i system if there is event among the students? Thank you Jen

[Jenny Bituin]

Hello Hteik. The system for reporting HFMD cases (Online PIDSR-IS) can only be accessed by Surveillance Officers of hospitals, local, and national health offices. HFMD cases from schools must be reported to their local health office if the students were not hospitalized. If the students with HFMD were hospitalized, the hospital’s surveillance officer will record it on the system, no need to report to the local office.

[Wah Wah Lwin]

Thanks for your great presentation, Jenny! It’s informative and I could learn the system from your country. Your presentation is quite clear, particularly in data flow, data utilization and how the data has positive impact on national-level decision making.

[Wai Phyo Aung]

Dear Jenny,
Thanks for sharing this HFMD surveillance system!! It is really interesting and informative.

[Myo Thiha]

Thank you for the great presentation and for sharing current practices. Quick question, will you develop an annual report or something similar under data utilization?

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