2005-05-13
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (May 13) confirmed one more case of Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) infection and urged the public to guard against the disease.
Details of the case are as follow:
Age:2-year-old
Sex:Female
Date of onset: May 4
Symptom: oral lesions and rash
Present condition: Recovered
Travel history: No recent travel history.
Home contacts: mother developed symptoms of hand foot and mouth disease since May 9 but has recovered. Other home contacts were asymptomatic
Other: CHP's investigations revealed that this girl and other 11 children, aged from 2 to 4, studying in the same child care centre in Tsing Yi developed hand-foot-mouth symptoms. The stool of one of the children, a 4-year-old girl, was tested positive for EV-71 yesterday. The others are in stable condition and none required hospitalization.
Cumulative total of EV-71 cases in 2005: 2
*imported: 0
*local: 2
Total number of EV 71 cases in recent years: 60 in 1998, 22 in 1999, 6 in 2000, 30 in 2001, 5 in 2002, 1 in 2003, 35 in2004.
A CHP spokesman said it was essential that the public stay alert to the threat of EV-71 infection and take the following preventive measures in prevention of the disease:
- Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet and changing diapers.
- Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
- Maintain good ventilation.
- Clean thoroughly toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.
- Parents should seek medical advice if their children develop symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease.
- Children suffering from the infection should stay at home and avoid contacting other children until the illness is over.
For more information, members of the public may visit the CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
End/Friday, May 13, 2005