Quezon City logged 17 confirmed cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) from January 1 to January 15, 2026, according to a local epidemiology surveillance update shared on social media by the city’s Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division.
Ten of the cases involved children aged three years and below, indicating that the disease continues to concentrate among very young children. The remaining cases occurred in older age groups.
The update also showed that infections appeared across multiple city districts, with District 2 recording the highest number of cases. City authorities reported no fatalities or severe complications in the latest count.
A separate broadcast report cited the same tally, confirming both the timeframe and number of cases. The early-year figures come amid a broader national resurgence of HFMD in 2025, prompting health officials and parents to renew preventive efforts.
Rising concern after a national surge
The Department of Health (DOH) previously reported a sharp increase in HFMD cases nationwide in 2025. As of August 9, 2025, authorities had recorded 37,368 cases—more than seven times the 5,081 cases logged during the same period in 2024.
DOH data carried by multiple Philippine news outlets showed that roughly half of those cases affected children aged one to three years, a group that overlaps with Quezon City’s early January cases. This pattern explains why even small clusters draw attention: young children remain the population most vulnerable to transmission.
City-level data from the Philippine Information Agency showed that by September 11, 2025, Quezon City had already logged 633 HFMD cases for the year, far exceeding its 2024 total for the same period. Children aged six and below accounted for the majority of those cases.
Although authorities reported no HFMD-related deaths in these updates, the disease can still disrupt families, particularly when children struggle to eat or drink because of painful mouth sores.
What HFMD is and why young children are most affected
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness caused by a group of enteroviruses, most commonly coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus A71. These viruses circulate widely and cause periodic seasonal increases, particularly among children.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HFMD typically presents with fever, sore throat, painful mouth sores, and a rash or blister-like lesions on the hands and feet. Symptoms usually appear three to six days after exposure.
Most cases resolve on their own within seven to ten days, but the illness spreads easily in communal settings such as day care centers and classrooms.
The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization describe HFMD as generally mild but note that infants and very young children can develop complications, including dehydration caused by painful oral lesions.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with saliva, nasal secretions, blister fluid, or feces, as well as through contaminated surfaces. Young children face higher risk because of frequent hand-to-mouth behavior, close contact during play, and diapering or toileting routines.
Clinical risks and when care is needed
HFMD usually requires only supportive care, but clinicians emphasize hydration as a priority, especially for toddlers who may avoid fluids because of mouth pain.
The CDC notes that children can spread the virus before symptoms appear and even after symptoms resolve, which complicates efforts to control transmission.
Health authorities advise caregivers to seek medical attention if a child develops prolonged fever, shows signs of dehydration, or experiences neurological symptoms. Severe complications such as viral meningitis or encephalitis remain rare.
Hygiene remains the primary defense
Public health guidance focuses on routine hygiene rather than extreme measures. The CDC recommends frequent handwashing, regular disinfection of toys and high-touch surfaces, and keeping symptomatic children out of group settings until fever and blisters resolve.
Many day care centers and schools have adopted structured handwashing schedules and enhanced cleaning routines, while reminding parents to keep sick children at home.
Some international guidelines advise children with HFMD to remain home for up to 10 days after symptom onset to reduce transmission, reflecting evidence that viral shedding can continue beyond the acute phase.
READ: Washing Away Illusions: The Philosophy of Clean Hands
How Quezon City is responding
Following the 2025 surge, Quezon City officials intensified public messaging on hygiene, avoidance of shared personal items, and early symptom monitoring, particularly in child-care and school settings.
The city’s epidemiology team continues to publish surveillance updates to inform parents and schools about where cases cluster and which age groups are most affected. Officials aim to keep prevention front of mind before small clusters escalate into larger outbreaks.
A wider regional pattern
Globally, HFMD remains one of the most common pediatric viral infections, with recurrent outbreaks documented across Asia. A 2025 multi-country analysis reported thousands of outbreaks involving tens of thousands of cases, highlighting how regularly HFMD cycles through populations with young children.
While some Southeast Asian countries have reported large outbreaks and occasional deaths, health experts stress that consistent hygiene practices remain the most effective protection.
When caregivers, schools, and communities treat handwashing, surface cleaning, and early isolation as routine habits rather than emergency responses, clusters stay smaller, disruptions remain limited, and children are better protected from both discomfort and complications.
Data Sources
- Quezon City Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division
- Department of Health (DOH) Philippines
- Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
