Vigilance urged against hand, foot and mouth disease

3 July 2010

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 3) repeated its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus (EV) infections upon receiving a report of a case of enteroviral meningitis.

The patient was a 10-month-old baby boy with good past health. He presented with fever, convulsion and oral rash on June 28 and was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital the same day. The clinical diagnosis was viral meningitis.

The boy was discharged on July 1. He is now in stable condition.

Laboratory tests today revealed that his cerebrospinal fluid tested positive for EV. Further laboratory tests are in progress.

His mother had onset of fever and sore throat in early June. Her symptoms subsided after seeking medical attention. 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 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.