Vietnamese health officials say nine infants have died from a virulent form of hand, foot and mouth disease in the first six weeks of 2012.

The fatalities are among over 6,000 reported cases of the viral disease since the beginning of January, seven times higher than during the same period in 2011. The Health Ministry says the numbers suggest the ongoing outbreak will be far more serious this year.

About 100,000 people were sickened by hand, foot and mouth disease in Vietnam during 2011, with 166 fatalities, mostly children. That outbreak reached its peak in September.