30 Apr 2008
An inter-departmental meeting was held today (April 30) to update the latest situation of Enterovirus (EV71) in Hong Kong and the neighbouring areas as well as to review current preventive and control measures taken by various parties against the disease.
The meeting was organized by the Centre for Health (CHP) of the Department of Health in anticipation of an increase in EV71 activity during the peak season in summer. The meeting was attended by representatives from Education Bureau (EDB), Hospital Authority (HA), Social Welfare Department (SWD), and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).
Speaking after the meeting, CHP's Consultant Community Medicine (Communicable Disease), Dr S K Chuang, said departments concerned agreed that concerted efforts from all sectors of the community are of paramount importance in guarding against the disease.
Dr Chuang said the meeting also discussed further preventive and control strategies being carried out by different parties, as well as planning for scenarios where individual childcare centres and schools are advised to suspend lessons due to EV71 outbreaks.
Dr Chuang said examples of such scenarios included occurrence of further cases in an institution attended by a confirmed EV 71 case after stepping up control measures; occurrence of an EV71 case who is suffering from severe complication and the institution the child is attending has an associated Hand-Food-and-Mouth disease (HFMD)outbreak.
"As the virus may be excreted in stools for some weeks and EV 71 is associated with a higher risk of complication, as an extra precaution, a child who has EV 71 infection are advised not to go to school for another 2 weeks after all symptoms have subsided," Dr Chuang said.
EV71 is a viral infection usually found among young children. It is also one of the causative agents for HFMD. EV71 and HFMD most commonly affect children and EV71 infections occurred sporadically in Hong Kong during the past years.
Dr Chuang said CHP had recorded ten EV71 cases so far this year, which was higher than the corresponding periods in the past years. The number of EV71 cases In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were 35, 8, 16 and 12 respectively.
She added that only a minority of HFMD in Hong Kong was caused by EV71 and CHP's surveillance data had showed a mild increase in HFMD activity this month.
"We have already put in place surveillance systems for HFMD and EV71 infections including outbreak notification, sentinel clinics, and laboratory surveillance," Dr Chuang said.
Regarding the recent outbreak in Anhui Province, Dr Chuang said CHP was maintaining close contact with the Ministry of Health of People's Republic of China on the development. CHP has also maintained close communication with the Health Department of Guangdong Province to update the situation there.
The interdepartmental meeting agreed to carry out the following measures to strengthen the prevention and control of EV71:
- In view of the anticipated summer peak season and the recent situation in neighbouring areas, CHP, SWD and EDB will send letters to childcare centres and schools detailing the measures they should take to prevent EV71 infections. Earlier in March, CHP had sent letters to these institutions to advise them about the importance of good personal and environmental hygiene in the prevention of HFMD and EV71.
- With the coordination of SWD and EDB, CHP will organize refresher health talks for management of childcare centres and schools over the next few weeks with a view to enhancing their knowledge in preventing EV71.
- The departments concerned will launch intensified community education campaigns against EV71 and HFMD via television, radio, at public venues and other channels before the arrival of the EV71 peak season
- CHP will issue letters to doctors updating them the latest situation and solicit their assistance to provide heanglth advice to parents.
"CHP has also published a guideline on the clinical diagnosis and management of EV71 and uploaded at CHP's website
www.chp.gov.hk
. for doctors' reference, available," Dr Chuang said. Hospital Authority has also updated their clinical guideline on enteroviral infection
To prevent HFM and EV71 infection, members of the public are urged to stay vigilant and strictly observe personal and environmental hygiene. While in Hong Kong or during travel, members of the public are advised to:--
- Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet and changing diapers;
- Cover nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing, and proper disposal of nasal and mouth discharge;
- Never share personal items such as towels and eating utensils;
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surface, furniture and toilets regularly with diluted bleach of 1:99 concentration (one portion of household bleach adding 99 portion of water);
- Disinfect toys/places which are contaminated by secretions or excreta with diluted household bleach of 1:99 concentration;
- Parents should pay attention to the health of their children and seek medical advice if their children develop symptoms of HFMD, especially if the following occurs:
- Children suffering from HFMD should stay at home and avoid contacting other children until they are completely recovered. Parents should maintain close communication with schools to let them know the latest situation of the sick children.
More information on the preventive measures against EV 71 and HFMD can be found in the website of CHP (
http://www.chp.gov.hk
).