Press Release

Vigilance urged against hand, foot and mouth disease

20 Apr 2012

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health has repeated its call for vigilance against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) after a report of enteroviral meningitis was received today (April 20).

The patient is a 5-year-old boy who developed fever, vomiting and headache on April 5. He was admitted to United Christian Hospital on April 6. The clinical diagnosis was meningitis.

The boy was in stable condition all along and discharged from hospital on April 17. Culture of cerebrospinal fluid yielded Echovirus type 30, a kind of enterovirus.

The boy has no recent travel history. His home contacts remained asymptomatic.

Investigation continues.

HFMD is a common disease in children caused by enteroviruses such as coxsackieviruses and enterovirus 71. The spokesman called on the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene to prevent HFMD. They should adopt the following measures:

* 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 diluted household bleach (by adding one part of household bleach containing 5.25 per cent sodium hypochlorite to 49 parts of water), 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.