Number of people killed by hand, foot and mouth disease in Vietnam through late November. The outbreak has killed mostly children, and sickened more than 96,000 other people. This year’s outbreak has seen a sharp rise in cases; since 2008, about 10,000 to 15,000 cases were reported per year with about 20 to 30 children dying annually. For Americans traveling to Vietnam over the holidays or in the near future, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a travel alert urging visitors to protect themselves from the disease by practicing “healthy personal hygiene.” [via AP]
