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Laboratory results available today (June 4) confirmed a third case of Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) among children in a Sha Tin kindergarten which has temporarily suspended lessons due to an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease.
A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, said a four-year-old girl developed mouth ulcer, blisters on hands and rash on feet on May 29. She sought medical treatment from the Accident and Emergency Department of Prince of Wales Hospital. Laboratory test results available today found she was suffering from EV-71, a viral infection usually found among young children.
The girl, who was not required to be hospitalised, is now in stable condition.
The girl has no recent travel history. Her one-year-old sister developed symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease and has consulted a private doctor. Other family members do not have any symptoms.
Two boys, aged 3 and 4 in the same kindergarten the girl was attending had already been confirmed with infection of EV-71 on June 1 and May 26 respectively. Twelve other children in the same kindergarten, aged between 3 and 6, were found to have hand-foot-mouth disease between May 5 and 30. All of them are in stable condition and none required hospitalisation.
The school, which has suspended lessons since May 30, is being put under medical surveillance by CHP.
The spokesman said as the disease was transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, it was essential that the public should stay alert to the threat of EV-71 infection and take the following preventive measures for 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.
This is the fifth case of EV-71 infection reported to CHP in 2007. There were 35, 8 and 16 cases of EV-71 infections reported in 2004, 2005 and 2006 respectively.
For more information, people may visit the CHP's website (http://www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.
Ends/Monday, June 4, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:05
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