Vigilance urged against hand, foot and mouth disease

27 August 2010

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (August 27) renewed its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus (EV) infections upon receiving reports of two cases of enteroviral meningitis.

The first case involved a 34-year-old man. He presented with fever on August 11 and sought medical treatment from a general practitioner the next day. He was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital on August 13 as the symptoms persisted.

He developed drowsiness, slurring speech, weakness and unsteady gait on August 14. The clinical diagnosis was viral meningitis.

The patient was discharged on August 25.

His anal swab specimen tested positive for EV71.

The second case involved a two-month-old baby girl living in Shenzhen. She presented with oral ulcers and rashes over hands and feet on August 21 and sought medical treatment at North District Hospital on the same day.

She developed fever on August 22 and was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. Her clinical diagnosis was viral meningitis.

Laboratory tests revealed that her cerebrospinal fluid tested positive for EV71.

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.