Vigilance urged against HFMD

2 July 2010

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 2) repeated its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus (EV) infections upon receiving report of a case of neurological complications due to EV 71 infection.

The patient is a two-year-old boy living in Yau Tsim Mong district. He presented with fever, rash over mouth and limbs on June 26. He sought medical treatment and was diagnosed to have HFMD. He was found drowsy on June 30 and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital. He is now in stable condition.

The clinical diagnosis is viral encephalitis. His clinical specimens were tested positive for EV type 71.

The patient has no recent travel history. His one-year-old sister also developed fever and rash over foot on June 30. She has sought medical treatment and her condition was stable. 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.