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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 5) repeated its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus (EV) infections upon receiving a report of a case of neurological complications due to EV71 infection.
The patient is a five-year-old boy with good past health. He presented with fever on July 1 followed by oral ulcer, rash over limbs and headache the following day.
He sought medical advice and was diagnosed to have HFMD. On July 3, he was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital for increased severity of headache. He is now in stable condition.
The clinical diagnosis is viral meningitis. His clinical specimen was tested positive for EV71.
His 19-month-old sister also developed symptoms of HFMD on June 28. His father developed oral ulcers on July 3. Both sought medical treatment and are in stable condition. Other home contacts are asymptomatic.
The spokesman called on the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene during the current HFMD outbreaks and to adopt the
following measures to prevent HFMD and EV infection:
* Maintain good indoor 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/Monday, July 5, 2010
Issued at HKT 21:03
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