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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has repeated its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) as a report on an imported case of enteroviral meningitis was received from Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) today (June 10).
The patient was a seven-year-old boy born in Hong Kong. He lives and studies on the Mainland. The boy developed fever and vesicles on the throat, hands and feet in mid-May. He sought treatment from a hospital on the Mainland.
The boy developed fever again from May 25 with headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and vomiting. He attended a hospital on the Mainland again on June 3.
He then came to Hong Kong on June 8 and was admitted to TMH. His cerebrospinal fluid preliminarily tested positive for enterovirus. Further laboratory results are pending.
The boy is now in stable condition.
His home contacts in Hong Kong are all asymptomatic.
The spokesman called on the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent HFMD. They should adopt the following measures:
* Maintain good air circulation;
* Wash hands before meals and after going to the toilet, handling diapers or other stool soiled materials;
* Keep hands clean and wash hands properly, especially when they are made dirty by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
* Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
* Clean children's toys and other objects thoroughly and frequently with 1:49 diluted household bleach, followed by rinsing/wiping with clean water;
* Children who are ill should be kept out of school until their fever and rash have subsided and all the vesicles have dried and crusted; and
* Avoid going to overcrowded places.
Ends/Thursday, June 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:40
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