Last week, 553 people came down with the normally mild childhood disease that usually causes fever and rashes on the hands, feet and buttocks. That is just 12 less than the Health Ministry's official 'epidemic level'.

The tally last week was up from 415 over the previous seven days, and health officials warn that the numbers are likely to rise between now and October, traditionally a peak period for HFMD.

This peak, though, usually affects fewer people than the first one from March to May, said Dr Lyn James, director of the Health Ministry's communicable diseases division. The reasons for the peaks are not known.

Still, the latest surge has already proven deadly. On Aug 6, Singapore registered its first death from HFMD since a severe outbreak in 2000-2001 killed seven children.

Like most of those victims, three-year-old Marzuk Adi died from a severe form of HFMD caused by a virus called EV71.

This virus has been of particular concern to countries in Asia, which have been battling outbreaks of HFMD in recent years. This year, it has killed 44 in China, 10 in Taiwan and 11 in Vietnam.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.