April 27, 2001
The Department of Health (DH) today (27 April) urged members of the public to be on guard against enterovirus infections during the May - July peak season following the confirmation of an outbreak of EV-71 affecting four children in Sha Tin District.
All four children had hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) and had fully recovered from the infection.
A spokesman for DH said: "To prevent enterovirus infections, the public should observe good personal and environmental hygiene at all times."
Members of the public should:
Earlier this month (April), DH had received a report on an outbreak of HFMD in Sha Tin District. Doctors and nurses from DH promptly identified four children from two families with HFMD. Samples and swabs were taken for investigations.
Three of the four children were confirmed positive for EV-71 last (26 April) night. Moreover, a young relative of one of the families was also confirmed positive for EV-71 same evening. The young relative had HFMD earlier.
Investigations showed that the four confirmed EV-71 cases had contracted the infection in their domestic settings. DH had visited the families and health education was given.
The spokesman explained that enterovirus infections including EV-71, were not uncommon diseases in children. The disease is usually self-limiting and complete recovery is the rule.
DH has an effective surveillance system to monitor HFMD and no upsurge of HFMD was observed in the first quarter of this (2001) year. The surveillance system also involves the Hospital Authority and private practitioners.
So far this (2001) year, 21 confirmed EV-71 cases were reported.
In addition, the Inter-departmental Working Group on Enterovirus Infection meets regularly to co-ordinate measures for the prevention and control of enterovirus infections. The Working Group last met on Monday (23 April).