Hong Kong : Public urged to stay vigilant against hand, foot and mouth disease and enterovirus 71 infection during peak season

Press release from CHP :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 10) reminded members of the public to maintain vigilance and take preventive measures against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection, as the latest surveillance data showed that HFMD and EV 71 activities remained at high level after Hong Kong entered the peak season.

"As of July 9, there have been 423 institutional HFMD outbreaks in 2013. The number is higher than those of the previous two years in the corresponding period. Among the laboratory confirmed outbreaks reported this year, most of the cases are associated with Coxsackie A viruses, including Coxsackie A6, A10 and A16 viruses," a spokesman for the CHP said.

Meanwhile, five cases of enterovirus 71 infection and three cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection (other than EV71 and poliovirus) have been reported during the same period this year.

"The latest data from the sentinel surveillance based at private medical practitioners, general outpatient clinics, child care centres and kindergartens, and Accident and Emergency Departments in public hospitals also show that HFMD activities remained at high level," the spokesman added.

The spokesman said that the CHP will tomorrow (July 11) send another round of letters to doctors, child care centres, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools to alert them to the most current HFMD and EV71 infection situation and provide advice on prevention and control."