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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 21) repeated its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus (EV) infection after receiving two cases of neurological complications due to EV infection.
The first case involved a 26-year-old woman living in Yuen Long. She presented with fever, headache and sore throat on July 14. She was admitted to Pok Oi Hospital on July 18. The clinical diagnosis was viral meningitis.
The patient was transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital today. She is now in stable condition.
Laboratory tests of her cerebrospinal fluid and stool specimen were positive for EV.
Her home contact is asymptomatic.
The second case involved a 16-year-old boy living in North District. He presented with rashes over his hands on July 16 and headache with fever on July 18. He sought medical treatment at North District Hospital on July 19. He developed convulsions the next day and was admitted to Alice Ho Mui Ling Nethersole Hospital.
He was diagnosed as having HFMD complicated by meningitis. He is now in stable condition.
Laboratory tests revealed that his rectal swab was positive for EV71.
No HFMD outbreak was reported recently in the school the patient attended. His 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 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/Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Issued at HKT 19:01
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