Enterovirus-71 case confirmed in Hong Kong

Sep 10 2004

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a case of enterovirus-71 involving a two-year-old girl.

She developed oral ulcers and a rash on August 29, and is now in stable condition. No hospitalisation was required. Her family members are asymptomatic.

As she had not travelled recently, the case has been classified as local, bringing the total number of infections to 32 - all local cases but one.

At the Wong Tai Sin nursery the patient attended, five boys and three girls, aged two to four, showed symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease between August 26 and September 8. All are stable and five have recovered. No hospitalisation was required.

One home contact, a six-year-old boy, also developed symptoms and is in a stable condition.

To prevent the disease:

• wash hands before eating and after going to toilet and changing nappies;
• cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• maintain good ventilation;
• thoroughly clean toys or appliances that are contaminated with nasal or oral secretions;
• parents should seek medical advice if their children develop symptoms; and,
• infected children should stay at home and avoid contact with others.