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Twelve children remain in a critical condition and more than 600 are still in hospital, some with brain damage and heart and lung problems.

A nationwide alert launched on the weekend has called for greater efforts to control the spread of all infectious diseases including hepatitis A and measles, as well as EV-71, particularly with the upcoming Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

The World Health Organisation says the virus does not currently present a threat to the Olympics or any other events.

The outbreak is primarily in Fuyang, in the eastern province of Anhui, where 22 of the deaths occurred; nurseries and schools have been closed and workers have sprayed disinfectant around houses in the affected areas.

However, it is my understanding spraying disinfectant alone will not help the situation. These schools need to thoroughly be cleaned with a bleach mixture.

UPDATE: 8:14 p.m.

Two more children have been pronounced dead, the death toll is now 26 children age six and under.

Labels: children, china, enterovirus 71

Hand, foot and mouth disease is something I am familiar with as I have seen several children with the disease in my lifetime. I have not known it to kill anyone.

Tragically, there are twenty-two fatal account of the disease in China as of late. On Friday, there were 3,321 reported cases of the virus in children. The illness -- known as enterovirus 71 -- can cause hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

A total of 978 children are hospitalized, Wang Yan, a Anhui province official, told Xinhua. Forty-eight of them are in critical condition.

Medical specialists have been sent out to 32 different locations in China to monitor the treatment measures being taken.

SOURCE

Now enterovirus 71 can evolve into many horrible things which can lead to fatality. But it is my understand hand, foot and mouth disease should not be a fatal disease. Am I wrong? If the virus attacks your nervous system and gets into your spinal fluid it can cause meningitis and even paralysis.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is not fun by any means. Sores develop in the aforementioned places and it can be quite uncomfortable. What I don't understand is how it is leading to death overseas. I mean it is supposed to be rare that complications caused by the virus can cause death. This doesn't sound rare to me. I am concerned. I feel horrible for these children and I can only hope they truly are receiving the best of care, but I am doubtful.

Maybe I am thinking of something different. Perhaps there are different strains? Maybe what I have seen has been from a different enterovirus, I don't know. I offer my prayers to those children.

UPDATE: (as of 8:58 a.m.)

More research...

Hand, foot and mouth disease can be caused by several strains of viruses, and EV71 is potentially more lethal for children. I must have seen cases in which the HFMD was caused by a less severe strain of the virus, possibly A16 aso known as coxsackievirus. The children I have know with HFMD have gotten it due to the coxsackievirus.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: "Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common illness of infants and children. It is characterized by fever, sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters. HFMD begins with a mild fever, poor appetite, malaise ("feeling sick"), and frequently a sore throat. One or 2 days after the fever begins, painful sores develop in the mouth. They begin as small red spots that blister and then often become ulcers. They are usually located on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks. The skin rash develops over 1 to 2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash does not itch, and it is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It may also appear on the buttocks."

HFMD caused by coxsackievirus A16 infection is a mild disease and nearly all patients recover without medical treatment in 7 to 10 days. Complications are uncommon. Rarely, the patient with coxsackievirus A16 infection may also develop "aseptic" or viral meningitis, in which the person has fever, headache, stiff neck, or back pain, and may need to be hospitalized for a few days. Another cause of HFMD, EV71 may also cause viral meningitis and, rarely, more serious diseases, such as encephalitis, or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis. EV71 encephalitis may be fatal.

Those of you wondering about prevention...?
Generally the best way to prevent any infection is to wash your hands often. HFMD is not airborne, it is contracted after direct contact with infected saliva or stool.

It is important to also clean anything associated with an infected person in case they have touched it with saliva. To properly clean a surface first use soap and water, and then disinfect with a diluted solution of chlorine-containing bleach made by mixing approximately a quarter cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water.

Labels: china, enterovirus 71, hand foot mouth disease