New hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak at child care centre is 241st across Hong Kong in just five months
Number of outbreaks at educational and child care institutions this year hits 241
The Centre for Health Protection has warned of the danger of hand, foot and mouth disease after another child care centre experienced an outbreak, pushing the number of such incidents at educational and child care institutions this year to 241.
The latest outbreak, reported from a Hung Hom child care centre, affected at least 19 children – 11 boys and eight girls aged from seven months to two years old – who developed a rash or vesicles on their hands or feet, oral ulcers and a fever after May 9.
A stool specimen from one member of staff tested positive for an enterovirus.
All the children were in a stable condition after seeking medical attention earlier, a spokesman for the centre said yesterday. None required hospitalisation.
The spokesman warned that the city was reaching its peak season for the disease, which is usually from May to July.
The peak season for hand, foot and mouth disease, which is usually caused by coxsackievirus A16 or enterovirus 71, comes right after the peak season for influenza. But the number of flu infections in the city has been low since April, according to data from the centre.
“Hand, foot and mouth disease is common in children,” the spokesman said. “[The centre] appeals to the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.”
As of May 16, a total 240 institutional outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease had been reported. Three children ended up in a severe condition following infection, but there has been no fatal case this year.
Last year, the city saw an usually high number of outbreaks – a total of 691 at educational and care institutions, affecting 4,194 people.
That was up on 346 institutional outbreaks reported back in 2004 that affected 2,087 people and killed one.
Hand, foot and mouth disease usually begins with a fever, poor appetite, tiredness and a sore throat, which are followed by painful sores developing in the mouth, according to the centre.
There may also be a non-itchy skin rash, usually on the palms of the hands, the feet, and sometimes on the buttocks or genitals.
The disease is usually mild and often resolves in seven to 10 days.
It is most infectious during the first week of the illness, and it mainly spreads by contact with nose or throat fluids, stools or contaminated objects.
Sometimes a smaller spike in enterovirus 71 occurs in the winter between October and December.
The spokesman reminded the public, especially the management of educational and child care institutions, to maintain good air circulation, clean children’s toys and other objects thoroughly, and keep children’s hands clean.
