Singapore reported 3,302 hand-foot-mouth disease cases from January to March 14 this year, up 20 percent over the same period last year, local media reported on Monday.

According to TV broadcaster Channelnewsasia, the week of March 8 to 14 alone has reported some 511 cases, exceeding the warning level of 400 cases.

Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) said that 88 percent of cases so far this year involved children aged 12 and below, while 8 percent were adults aged 21 years and above.

Seasonal peaks of hand-foot-mouth disease in Singapore are from March to May, and August to October periods.

According to the broadcaster, the disease hit an epidemic level, with 1,466 cases reported in a week at its peak in April 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2009)