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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 6) confirmed a new case of Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) infection involving a one-year-old boy and urged people to be vigilant against the disease.
A CHP spokesman said the boy had now fully recovered. He attended a day care centre where a case of EV-71 was confirmed yesterday.
EV-71 is a viral infection usually found among young children. It is also one of the causative agents for hand-foot-mouth disease.
The boy developed symptoms of fever, oral ulcer and rash on body and legs on August 31. He consulted a private doctor and he did not go to hospital. He has now fully recovered. Laboratory result of stool sample collected from the boy was positive for EV-71 today.
CHP's investigation revealed that the boy did not have any travel history during the incubation period. His three family members did not have any symptoms.
At the day care centre the boy attended, 11 children suffered from hand-foot-mouth symptoms from August 19 to 31, including the two patients of the confirmed cases. Of them, seven have recovered and others are in stable condition. The centre is being put under CHP's medical surveillance.
The spokesman said that because hand-foot-mouth disease was transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, people should be vigilant against the disease and observe the following preventive measures:
* Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet and changing diapers;
* Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
* Maintain good ventilation;
* Thoroughly clean 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 they have recovered.
This is the 10th 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/Thursday, September 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:57
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