MANILA, Aug. 30 -- The Department of Health (DOH) is intensifying its monitoring of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) as it recorded 2,525 new cases in the country between Aug. 9 and 16.

The latest figure brings to 39,893 the total HFMD cases in the country so far this year.

In its bulletin on Saturday, the agency said half of the cases are children aged 1 to 3 years old.

"Dahil dito, nakikipag-ugnayan na ang DOH sa mga local government units upang mapaigting ang pagmo-monitor ng mga kaso ng HFMD sa mga rehiyon (Because of this, the DOH is coordinating with local government units to intensify the monitoring of HFMD cases in the regions)," it said.

"Nakakasa na rin ang pagpupulong ng healthy learning institution ng DOH upang mapag-us...