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Filipino citizens are advised of an
ongoing outbreak in China of an intestinal virus called enterovirus 71, or
EV71. This virus causes a variant of hand, foot, and mouth disease(HFMD)
which is a common illness of infants and children below 10 years old which
can also affect adults. It is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth,
and a rash with blisters. HFMD begins with a mild fever, lack of appetite,
malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat. One or 2 days after
the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth.
The symptoms of EV 71 are similar but
more severe than the common hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). According
to the US Center for Disease Control, it typically starts with a generalized
illness, poor appetite, and sore throat, followed by a fever, rashes on the
hands, feet, and buttocks along with mouth ulcers. HFMD is often confused
with foot-and-mouth disease of cattle, sheep, and swine. Although the names
are similar, the two diseases are not related at all and are caused by
different viruses.
Infection is spread from person to person
by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from
blisters, or the stool of infected persons. A person is most contagious
during the first week of the illness. HFMD is not transmitted to or from
pets or other animals.
The number of
HFMD cases reported in China this year has reached 27,600 as of 12 May and
there is a recorded 34 deaths from this outbreak. Cases have been reported
in Anhui(22 deaths), Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei,
Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and the municipalities of Beijing and Chongqing.
Shanghai has reported 1,988 cases of HFMD, none of them severe. Attached
is an advisory from the Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and
Prevention.
There is no vaccine and experts are still
trying to find an effective treatment, but the risk of infection can be
lowered by good hygienic practices. Preventive measures include frequent
handwashing and disinfection of affected areas. There are no other
specific precautions for this disease at this time other than the general
hygiene recommendations for living in China.
Advisory from Shanghai Municipal
Bureau of Public Health, Shanghai Municipal Center For Disease Control &
Prevention
Pay Attention to Public Health,
Prevent Contracting Hand-Foot-Mouth
Epidemic
Hand, foot and mouth epidemic is a common infectious disease caused by
various enterovirus, and its clinical symptoms are featured by fever and
rash or rashes in hand, foot or mouth. A few patients might also suffer from
aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, acute flaccid paralysis, respiratory tract
infection, and myocarditis.
Pathogens of hand, foot and mouth disease are mainly from enterovirus:
Coxsackie virus A-16, A-4, A-5, A-7, A-9, A-10, and B-2, B-5, B-13; ECHO
virus and EV71, among which EV71 and Coxackie virus A-16 are the most common
ones. The recent outbreak of hand, foot and mouth epidemic in Fuyang City
Anhui Province is caused by EV71 which is easily thrive in humid and hot
conditions. The virus can live for one year at the temperatures ranging from
40°C to -20°C. The virus is less sensitive to ether, dechlorination cholate,
and cannot be killed by 75% alcohol and 5% Lysol disinfectants. However, it
is very sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and dry conditions. Various
oxidants (potassium permanganate, calcium oxychloride), formaldehyde, and
iodine can kill the virus, and it can also been killed at the temperature of
50°C.
When people are infected by EV71, after an asymptomatic period of 12 to 24
hours (minimum) or 6 days (maximum) or 2 days (average), most patients will
take on acute disease symptoms of fever with temperature as high as 38°C,
and rash or herpes appear in hand, foot or mouth, with cough, nasal mucus,
no appetite, nausea, vomiting and headache; some patients’ health conditions
will quickly deteriorate or with simultaneous outbreak of encephalitis,
encephalomyelitis, meningitis, pneumonedema, or circulatory collapse, which
is life-threatening or leads to death if emergency treatment is not properly
taken.
Hand, foot and mouth
epidemic is a common infectious disease which is spread mainly through close
contact with the patients or touching the hands, towels, handkerchiefs,
tooth cups, toys, food utensils, milking utensils and bedding or underwear
that are infected by the virus; or to drink the virus polluted water or eat
the virus infected foods; or the air transmission or spray of the virus
coming from the patients’ throat secretion or saliva. The epidemic can break
out in all year round, but is mostly common in end spring and early summer
with its peak period from May to July; human beings are generally easy to be
infected by enterovirus and children two to six years’ old in particular are
the most vulnerable.
Though hand, foot and
mouth epidemic is a kind of infectious disease, it is preventable. To
prevent from contracting the disease, one should learn the following words
by heart, “to wash hands frequently, eat cooked foods, drink boiled water,
keep room well ventilated, and to be exposed to the sun”, which means to
cultivate a good habit of personal health: to wash hands frequently; drink
boiled water only, and do not drink unboiled water; eat well cooked foods,
and do not eat polluted uncooked or unclean foods; to keep windows open for
ventilation; and to be exposed to the sun as frequently as one can. If one
contracts the epidemic, he/she has to get proper treatment from hospital in
time. By doing this, the hand, foot and mouth disease can be fully
prevented.
All kindergartens, pre-school institutions and primary schools are requested
to keep classrooms and dormitories well ventilated; to strengthen the
regular cleaning and disinfecting of toys, personal health utensils, dish
utensils, knobs and handles to doors, staircase railings, and desk tops; to
instruct and guide the children and students to cultivate a good personal
health habit, that is to wash hands before each meal and after going to the
toilet; to strengthen morning health check, and to send suspicious epidemic
infected kids to hospital for immediate treatment; for those kids who are
diagnosed to have contracted hand, foot and mouth disease, they should be
quarantined from public schools or kindergartens to be properly treated in
hospital or at home; and the utensils or things that have been touched by
the patient shall undergone immediate disinfecting measures.
If the parents find children suffering from high fever or skin rash, they
shall immediately send them to hospital, and decide whether to stay at home
or be hospitalized according to the doctor’s diagnosis and advice. If the
child is diagnosed to have contracted hand, foot and mouth disease, he/she
should suspend schooling for the moment to prevent from spreading the
disease or contracting other diseases. For children being treated at home,
parents shall strictly follow the doctor’s advice and to give medicine to
them on time; pay attention to skin care and to keep skin clean to prevent
further infection due to broken herpes; to closely observe the health
conditions of the patient, and to hurry into hospital for worse-off
conditions; to apply disinfectants to daily used articles, toys, diapers,
patient’s excrement and other discharges; to boil milking utensils or dish
utensils for disinfection purpose. To expose clothes and quilts to the sun,
and to open windows for regular ventilation to keep air well circulated. END |
