By Jessica Jaganathan

CHILDCARE centres and kindergartens are stepping up the cleaning of classrooms as the number of children coming down with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) continues to climb.

Last week, 653 people came down with the normally mild childhood disease that usually causes fever and rashes.

That is just 12 short of the Health Ministry's official 'epidemic level'.

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

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