07/27/2012, 00.00
THAILAND
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Rayong: suspicious death of Cambodian child gives rise to campaign against epidemic

Death linked to hand foot mouth disease (HFMD). The infant suffered breathing difficulties and blisters on hands and feet. Other confirmed cases in some schools. Authorities working to contain the spread of the virus. In June, 17 deaths in China from EV-71.

Bangkok (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Panic is mounting in the province of Rayong following the the suspicious death of a Cambodian-born child, which may be related to hand foot mouth disease (HFMD). In different areas of the east coast of Thailand fears are growing of a possible epidemic, and the authorities are taking action to contain any spread of the virus. Krit Palasuth, public health official in the area, explains that the two and a half year-old infant died July 25 in the emergency department two hours after admission to hospital in Klaeng, located in the homonymous district.

Local medical sources say that the child came to the hospital with breathing difficulties, fatigue and blisters on his hands and feet. His parents point out that in the days before the baby developed a high fever, accompanied by sores on his arms and legs. They had brought him to hospital twice his last admission, but the situation did not improve.

Health authorities are investigating whether the death is linked to Enterovirus-71, or EV-71, while three other children who were in close contact with the child are under observation as a precaution, after developing symptoms similar to HFMD. The child may have contracted the virus from a little friend who was also from Cambodia, recently returned to Thailand after visiting the country. In fact, the authorities in Phnom Penh have recently launched a prevention campaign to avert an epidemic, after dozens of cases and fatalities.

The Thai authorities are preparing a department to "fight" the virus and prevent outbreaks of hand foot mouth disease. Today a prevention campaign against the disease has started throughout the province of Rayong, as well as sterilization campaign to prevent infections. It seems that there are several other confirmed cases of EV-71 infection and civil servants may be ordered to close schools.

Last June HFMD killed 17 people and infected at least 35 thousand in the central Chinese province of Hunan. The disease is caused by intestinal viruses, mainly affecting infants and children and is contagious. It spreads through direct contact with mucus, saliva, or feces of an infected person, and is common in nurseries and kindergartens. The most common symptoms are the presence of vesicles and bubbles near the mouth, palms of hands and soles of the feet. Other symptoms that precede the manifestation of the disease include sore throat and fever, while the occurrence of headaches and nausea is rarer.

 

 

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