JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: Ten cases of hand, foot and mouth disease were reported in Johor this week, with at least four children under the age of two falling victims.

Tan Lie Cen, 26, who is the mother to one of the victims, said that her 14-month-old son Brian Liu contracted the disease from her neighbour's eight-year-old son.

"We suspect that our neighbour's son got it from his school in Kulai last week," she said, adding that now two of her nephews and a niece had fallen sick after coming in contact with the boy.

"My son fell sick on Sunday and had to be hospitalised. My sister's eight-month-old baby is also hospitalised," she said in a telephone interview with The Star.

Tan said that she felt it was important to highlight the cases to ensure that other parents were more careful about the disease.

"It is not easy to take care of children, especially if they have to be hospitalised," she said.

Johor health director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa, however, said that there was no cause for alarm as it was normal to have between seven to 10 cases reported on a weekly basis.

"This is a normal occurrence and there is nothing to worry about," he said.

Dr Marzukhi, however, said that it was important to pay attention to personal hygiene as the virus was spread through contact with human faeces.

"Make sure that the environment is clean. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and before eating food," he said, adding that clothes should also be washed well and soiled diapers disposed off properly.