Hong Kong, Two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection (July 10 2012): Enterovirus & Coxsackievirus

[Giuseppe]

[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection


The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 10) investigated two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection affecting a five-year-old girl and a 39-day-old baby boy, and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.

In the first case, the girl lives in Mainland China. She presented with fever, headache and neck stiffness on July 1. She travelled to Hong Kong for treatment on July 4 and was admitted to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital the same day.

The clinical diagnosis was meningitis due to EV infection. Her condition is stable. Her cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV.

The girl's elder brothers also had symptoms and sought medical consultation. Other home contacts were asymptomatic.

As regards the second case, the baby boy also lives in Mainland China. He had fever on July 4, travelled to Hong Kong for treatment on July 5 and was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital the same day. His cerebrospinal fluid specimen tested positive for EV while his rectal swab tested positive for Coxsackie virus.

The boy's condition has been stable throughout. His home contacts did not have symptoms.

The CHP investigation continues.

A CHP spokesman said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should be vigilant against the disease and observe the following preventive measures:

• Wash hands before eating and after going to toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

Children suffering from the infection should stay at home and avoid contacting other children until they have recovered.

For more information, people may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.


Ends/Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:47
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[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Hong Kong, Two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection (July 10 2012): Enterovirus & Coxsackievirus

Mainland baby, young girl treated for deadly virus

Mary Ann Benitez

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Two mainland children - a five-year- old girl from Guangxi and a 39-day-old baby boy from Shenzhen - are being treated at Hong Kong hospitals for a severe form of enterovirus infection, the Centre for Health Protection said last night.
...

The center said it notified the Ministry of Health about the two children, who were infected in the mainland.
...
The specific strain of EV for both children has not yet been typed, but most likely could be EV71, which experts and the CHP have said "is more likely associated with severe medical complications and even death."

Hong Kong has reported 297 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease up to July 5 this year, of which 39 were confirmed as EV71.

No deaths have been reported.

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=4&art_id=124253&sid=36991720&con_type=1&d_str=20120711&fc=2

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong, Two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection (July 10 2012): Enterovirus & Coxsackievirus

[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Update on confirmed imported case of severe paediatric EV infection



The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 11) provided an update on a confirmed imported case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection involving a 5-year-old girl reported yesterday.

The laboratory results showed that stool specimens from the 5-year-old-girl and her two elder brothers, both aged 7, tested positive for EV but negative for EV71 by RT-Polymerase Chain Reaction.

The three children live in Mainland China. They presented with fever, headache and neck stiffness since July 1 and travelled to Hong Kong for treatment on July 4. They were admitted to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital on the same day. Their clinical diagnoses were meningitis due to EV infection and the three children are now in stable condition.

The CHP investigation is continuing.

A CHP spokesman said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, or the stool of infected persons, the public should be vigilant against the disease and observe the following preventive measures:

• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Never share personal items such as towels and eating utensils;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

Children suffering from the infection should stay at home and avoid contacting other children until they have recovered.

For more information, people may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.


Ends/Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:16
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[Shiloh]

Re: Hong Kong, Two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection (July 10 2012): Enterovirus & Coxsackievirus

Source: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_d...249&con_type=1


Children hit in bad year for severe virus
Mary Ann Benitez
Thursday, July 12, 2012

Thirteen children have been sickened with severe enteroviral infections this year, a record that follows the pattern seen in the mainland and Cambodia, data shows.

There were eight cases of EV in 2010 and nine last year, the Centre for Health Protection said.

Among the 13 cases, eight are imported, all involving mainland children. Five are local "or not classified," it added.

The imported cases include a five- year-old girl and her two brothers, both seven, who tested positive for enteroviruses - which cause hand, foot mouth disease - but negative for the deadly enterovirus71...

...So far this year, two severe cases of EV71 infection have been reported out of 39 laboratory-confirmed EV71 cases, also a record high.

[Giuseppe]

Re: Hong Kong, Two cases of severe paediatric enterovirus infection (July 10 2012): Enterovirus & Coxsackievirus

[Source: Centre for Health Protection, Hong Kong PRC SAR, full text: (LINK).]

Severe case of paediatric enterovirus infection investigated


The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 12) investigated a case of severe paediatric enterovirus (EV) infection affecting a three-month-old baby, and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease.

The boy lives in Mainland China. He presented with fever on July 7. He was brought to Hong Kong for treatment on July 8 and was admitted to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital on the same day.

The clinical diagnosis was meningitis due to EV infection. His condition is stable.

His cerebrospinal fluid, throat and rectal specimens tested positive for EV. His home contacts were asymptomatic.

The investigation is continuing.

A CHP spokesman said that as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, or the stool of infected persons, the public should be vigilant against the disease and observe the following preventive measures:

• Wash hands before eating and after going to the toilet and changing diapers;
• Cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Never share personal items such as towels and eating utensils;
• Maintain good ventilation; and
• Thoroughly clean toys or appliances which are contaminated by nasal or oral secretions.

Children suffering from the infection should stay at home and avoid contacting other children until they have recovered.

For more information, people may visit the CHP website (www.chp.gov.hk) or call the Central Health Education Hotline 2833 0111.


Ends/Thursday, July 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:09
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