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Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Outbreaks


Individual cases and outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) occur around the world. In countries with temperate (varying) climates, cases occur more often in the spring to fall.

Since 1997, large outbreaks of HFMD caused by enterovirus 71 have been reported mostly in children in east and Southeast Asia. In these outbreaks, most children have typical symptoms of HFMD and recover without health complications. However, a small number of people with this disease develop severe complications requiring hospitalization or even causing death.

Studies are being done to understand why these outbreaks occur and why some people have severe disease. Research is also being done to develop treatments and vaccines to help prevent HFMD in the future.

To learn more about outbreaks occurring in some countries in Asia, visit the World Health Organization.
...
http://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/outbreaks.html

----------------------------------------------------------------
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)

Situation Updates (12 June 2012)
...
Cumulative reported number of HFMD cases in 2012 and 2011 (for the same time period), by country. For detailed information on the recent weekly or monthly trend in the reported number of cases, see text descriptions below.
HFMD.Table.12June2012.jpg

...

http://www.wpro.who.int/emerging_diseases/HFMD/en/index.html
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Doctors identify Cambodia mystery illness

Scientists identify illness that killed 64 children as Enterovirus 71, a strain of hand, foot and mouth disease.

Last Modified: 08 Jul 2012 12:07

<fb:like class=" fb_edge_widget_with_comment fb_iframe_widget" href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/07/201278103438248264.html" layout="button_count" show_faces="false" width="85px"></fb:like>

Video



]Scientists in Cambodia have said they have identified the mystery illness that has killed dozens of children in the past three months.

The Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, announced on Sunday that tests indicate the unknown sickness that has led to the deaths of 64 children and hospitalisation of 66 is the Enterovirus 71.

The virus is a strain of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) that is widespread in Asia, but not usually found in Cambodia.
HFMD is a human ailment caused by intestinal viruses, and not to be mistaken for foot-and-mouth disease, which only affects animals. Infected children generally suffer from high fever, rashes, respiratory and sometimes neurological problems.
In 64 of the 66 cases, the children's health deteriorated much faster than doctors expected. This is one of the reasons why the illness was difficult to identify, as the Enterovirus 71 usually does not lead to such quick deaths.

Paediatrician Beat Richner, founder of Kantha Bopha children's hospitals, was the first to raise concerns about the illness.
Richner said all the patients who died were treated in private clinics in local areas before being brought to the Kantha Bopha hospitals in the capital and the northwestern province of Siem Reap.
"They all got injections or infusions by private centres before coming to us," he said. "Some died four hours after arriving."

Faulty prescriptions?

Out of the 66 children hospitalised, the two patients that lived were treated only by Kantha Bopha staff, suggesting that botched medical treatment may be a factor.

"All these children have encephalitis [inflammation of the brain] and in the later hours of their life they develop a severe pneumonia with a destruction of the alveoli in the lungs. That is the reason they die," Richner said.

The alveoli, or air sacs, are pockets in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

There is no known cure for the Enterovirus, but doctors recommend good hygiene especially for young children.

The UN health body and Cambodian officials have urged parents to bring their sick children to hospital if they see any signs of any unusual illness.

There have been no cases reported outside Cambodia so far.
:tiphat:http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/07/201278103438248264.html
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

[About Pleconaril treatment for enteroviral encephalitis. (IOH)]

Source: http://mail.benthamscience.com/cmccnsa/sample/cnsamc9-1/0007T.pdf

Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, 9, 56-62
1871-5249/09 $55.00+.00 ? 2009 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.


Treatment of Viral Encephalitis

Renan Barros Domingues*

Department of Pathology, Santa Casa School of Health Sciences (EMESCAM), Vit?ria, ES, Brazil; Neurosciences Postgraduation Program, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil



Abstract:

Several viruses may cause central nervous system diseases with a broad range of clinical manifestations. The time course of the viral encephalitis can be acute, subacute, or chronic. Pathologically there are encephalitis with direct viral entry into the CNS in which brain parenchyma exhibits neuronal damaging and viral antigens and there are postinfectious autoimmune encephalitis associated with systemic viral infections with brain tissue presenting perivascular aggregation of immune cells and myelin damaging. Some virus affect previously healthy individuals while others produce encephalitis among imunocompromised ones. Factors such evolving lifestyles and ecological changes have had a considerable impact on the epidemiology of some viral encephalitis [e.g. West-Nile virus, and Japanese B virus]. Citomegalovirus and JC virus are examples of infections of the brain that have been seen more frequently because they occur in immunocompromised patients. In the other hand many scientific achievements in neuroimaging, molecular diagnosis, antiviral
therapy, immunomodulatory treatments, and neurointensive care have allowed more precise and earlier diagnoses and more efficient treatments, resulting in improved outcomes. In this article, we will present the current drug options in the management of the main acute and chronic viral infection of the central nervous system of immunocompetent and
immunocompromised adults, focusing on drugs mechanisms of action, efficacy, and side effects. The early diagnosis and correct management of such diseases can reduce mortality and neurological sequelae; however, even with recent treatment advances, potentially devastating outcomes are still possible.

Keywords: Virus, encephalitis, treatment, antiviral drugs, immunomodulatory agents.

(...)

1.5. Enterovirus Encephalitis

Enterovirus are commonly associated with meningitis and eventually with encephalitis [4]. The enterovirus are more often associated with diffuse encephalitis, however, focal encephalitis cases may occur [52]. The diagnosis should be suspected in patients with systemic manifestations
of an enterovirus infection such as rash and diarrhea; however, these findings may not be present. Currently the best diagnostic confirmatory approach is the PCR of CSF samples [53]. Treatment of enterovirus encephalitis with Pleconaril has been proposed [52]. Pleconaril is an antiviral drug developed for prevention of asthma exacerbations and common cold symptoms in asthmatic subjects exposed to picornavirus respiratory infections. Pleconaril is active against viruses in the Picornaviridae family, including Enterovirus and Rhinovirus. Pleconaril binds to a hydrophobic pocket in viral protein 1 [VP1], the major protein which comprises the capsid of picornaviruses that mediates viral adsorption and uncoating process, thus prevents the virus from releasing its RNA interrupting viral replication. This drug has been proven to be extremely safe. There have been no differences in the rates of adverse events between treatment and placebo groups in clinical studies. The safety of pleconaril is probably the result of its unique site of action on the viral capsid [54-56]. Case reports have showed encouraging results; however, controlled studies are still needed to better access the efficacy of this drug in the treatment of enterovirus encephalitis [52].

(...)

[52] Steiner, I.; Budka, H.; Chaudhuri, A.; Koskiniemi, M.; Sainio, K.;
Salonen, O.; Kennedy, P.G. Viral encephalitis: a review of diagnostic methods and guidelines for management. Eur. J. Neurol., 2005,
12, 331-43.
[54] Pevear, D.; Tull, T.; Seipel, M.; Groarke, J. Activity of pleconaril
against enteroviruses. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 1999, 43,
2109-15.
[55] Florea, N.; Maglio, D.; Nicolau, D. Pleconaril, a novel antipicornaviral agent. Pharmacotherapy, 2003, 23, 339-48.
[56] Harley, A.; Rotbart, H.A. Pleconaril Treatment of Enterovirus and
Rhinovirus Infections. Infect. Med., 2000, 17, 488-94.

(...)

-
-----
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

More about pleconaril/ribavirin for EV71.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22245989

Arch Virol. 2012 Apr;157(4):669-79. Epub 2012 Jan 15.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of ribavirin and pleconaril antiviral activity against enterovirus 71 infection.

Zhang G, Zhou F, Gu B, Ding C, Feng D, Xie F, Wang J, Zhang C, Cao Q, Deng Y, Hu W, Yao K.

Source
Department of Microbiology and Immunity, Nanjing Medical University, 140# Hanzhong Road, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu, China.


Abstract

Enterovirus 71(EV71) causes recurring outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease and encephalitis leading to complications or death in young children. More effective antiviral drugs are needed to prevent or reduce EV71-related disease and complications. However, there are no standard models currently in use to evaluate activity against EV71 infection both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the activity of ribavirin and pleconaril against EV71 infection was evaluated in two models. An in vitro EV71 infection model was developed in RD cells, and an in vivo EV71 infection model was applied. Ribavirin and pleconaril effectively increased the viability of infected cells. Pleconaril reduced the morbidity and mortality of one-day-old infected mice, but ribavirin did not protect the infected mice. In all, the results demonstrated that infected cells and infected mice can be used to evaluate antiviral activity of ribavirin and pleconaril against EV71 infection in vitro and in vivo.

PMID: 22245989 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

-
------
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Dr. Richner is not happy. He issued this public letter today:

http://www.beat-richner.ch/pdf/2012/EnterovirusType71_8July.pdf

Dr. Beat Richner, Kantha Bopha Children?s Hospitals
Phnom Penh / Siem Reap Angkor, 8.7.2012
Urgent message
Since the end of April 2012 in the Kantha Bopha Children?s Hospitals 66 children
were admitted with just same symptoms and clinical findings. The children, most
between 2 and 3 years old, suffered from Encephalitis. They develop in the last
hours of their life a total destruction of the alveolas in the lungs. Up to now 64 have
died. Only two have survived. The last week from 2nd to 7th July there were only two
cases.
On 20th June, after having discussed this in Cambodia new picture of disease since
early May with the Ministry of Health, and after having got no positive results by
Institut Pasteur, which whom we cooperate since beginning of the discovery of this
for Cambodia new phenomena in our 5 Hospitals, we wrote a letter to the Minister
of Health suggesting as causing reason a Enterovirus, or an intoxication by a
medication outside of our Hospitals, or both. All the 64 cases who have died were
treated outside by private clinics before they were brought to the Kantha Bopha
Hospitals.
Yesterday the Institut Pasteur could confirm, that in the majority of the above
described cases the Enterovirus Type 71 was found. Still we have now to see what
really is causing the deadly pulmonary complication and see if a toxic factor is
playing a role too. Why only a very few children infected by Enterovirus 71 are
doing this awful destruction of the lungs
?
Unfortunately WHO has given a declaration on July 2nd to Reuters without being
clear on the facts
being presented on 29th June in the Ministry of Health by Kantha
Bopha to all the officials of Health. WHO was telling whole the world: New mystery
killer disease in Cambodia! This was causing unnecessary panic in Cambodia.
On the level of public health it is not an alarming issue: The 5 Kantha Bopha
Hospitals are covering 85% of all Cambodian sick children. In case of the Dengue
Fever Kantha Bopha is covering 92%. In June 75 799 sick children were treated in
our outpatient stations. 16 517 severely sick children had to be hospitalized, among
them 5534 severe cases of the Hemorrhagic Dengue Fever. In June only 34 cases
with this above described ? new? disease were hospitalized. This declaration by
WHO, which is not at all involved in this matter, to Reuters on July 2nd was neither
professional nor necessary, but causing panic for nothing
.
Dr. Beat Richner, Founder and Head of the Kantha Bopha Children?s Hospitals in
Cambodia.
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

http://www.promedmail.org/

Published Date: 2012-07-08 17:41:28
Subject: PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness, fatal, child - Cambodia (03): EV71
Archive Number: 20120708.1193960

UNDIAGNOSED ILLNESS, FATAL, CHILD - CAMBODIA (03): EV71 CONFIRMED
*****************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

******[1]Date: Sun 8 Jul 2012
Source: rthk.hk News [edited]
http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/20120708/news_20120708_56_853564.htm


Cambodian disease linked to virus
---------------------------------
Cambodian health officials and the World Health Organization say most of the children who died from a mystery disease in Cambodia had contracted the EV-7 [human enterovirus 71] infection -- a virus linked to hand, foot and mouth disease [HFMD]. The children were below 3 years of age and were mainly from the southern and central parts of the country. 56 have died since April 2012.

Dr Nimal Asgari, a WHO spokesman in Phnom Penh, said a significant number of the samples tested by the Institut Pasteur identified the virus as EV-71. However, it is still not known if all the children had the virus because not all children were able to provide samples.

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>

******
[2]
Date: Sun 8 Jul 2012
Source: Bloomberg News [edited]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-08/children-s-deaths-in-cambodia-linked-to-enterovirus.html


Children's deaths in Cambodia linked to enterovirus
---------------------------------------------------
The Institut Pasteur in Cambodia has discovered Enterovirus Type 71 in about two-thirds of patients it tested after a mystery disease killed more than 60 children in the country, said the head of the institute's virology unit.

Enterovirus Type 71 is a "perfect explanation" for the deaths, Philippe Buchy said by telephone today. "We can now focus on how to contain it," he said.

(byline: Natasha Khaan)

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[It remains to be determined whether other viruses or infectious agents are implicated in this outbreak of fatal disease in Cambodia. Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is generally a mild disease usually caused by an enterovirus such as human coxsackievirus A, human coxsackievirus B, or human enterovirus 71. Infection by human enterovirus 71 may have more serious outcomes, but otherwise HFMD is a mild illness. HFMD gets its name from the non-itchy rash that develops on the palms of your hands and soles of feet. It can also cause ulcers in the mouth although many individuals have no symptoms.

Human enterovirus 71 has emerged as an important cause of viral encephalitis in South East Asia over past 15 years. A pattern of increased epidemic activity and endemic circulation of HEV71 has been observed since 1997 and is associated with the regular emergence of new genetic lineages. Although the reason for this increase in HEV71 circulation remains unknown, evidence is accumulating that recombination events may drive the evolution of new genetic lineages. [see: McMinn PC. Curr Opin Virol. 2012 Apr;2(2):199-205].

Although poliomyelitis has been mostly eradicated worldwide, large outbreaks of the related human enterovirus 71 have been seen in Asia-Pacific countries in the past 10 years. This virus mostly affects children, manifesting as hand, foot, and mouth disease, aseptic meningitis, poliomyelitis-like acute flaccid paralysis, brainstem encephalitis, and other severe systemic disorders, including especially pulmonary oedema and cardiorespiratory collapse. Clinical predictors of severe disease include high temperature and lethargy, and lumbar puncture might reveal pleocytosis. Many diagnostic tests are available, but PCR of throat swabs and vesicle fluid, if available, is among the most efficient. Features of inflammation, particularly in the anterior horns of the spinal cord, the dorsal pons, and the medulla can be clearly seen on MRI. No established antiviral treatment is available. Intravenous immunoglobulin seems to be beneficial in severe disease, perhaps through non-specific anti-inflammatory mechanisms, but has not been tested in any formal trials. Milrinone might be helpful in patients with cardiac dysfunction. [See: Ooi MH, Wong SC, Lewthwaite P, Cardosa MJ, Solomon T. Lancet Neurol. 2010 Nov; 9(11):1097-1105].

The HealthMap interactive map of Cambodia is available at http://healthmap.org/r/1iGB. - Mod.CP]
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

WHO Update on investigation of unknown disease in Cambodia
cambo_mystery.jpg

CAMBODIA, 8 July 2012 – The Cambodian Ministry of Health, in partnership with the World Health Organization and other partners, is currently conducting an active investigation of the undiagnosed syndrome that affected children in Cambodia. Based on the latest laboratory results, a significant proportion of the samples tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The EV-71 has been known to generally cause severe complications among some patients.:tiphat:http://www.wpro.who.int/en/
:tiphat:http://www.wpro.who.int/CAM_mystery_8July.pdf Some kids had strep suis and Dengue
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Lab results show dead Cambodian children positive for Enterovirus 71




PHNOM PENH, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The latest laboratory results showed that Enterovirus Type 71 (EV-71) was found among children who had died from undiagnosed syndrome since April, according to a joint statement of Cambodia's Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO) released Sunday midnight.
"Based on the latest laboratory results, a significant proportion of the patients' samples tested positive for Enterovirus 71," said the statement, adding the samples were found negative for H5N1 and other influenza viruses.
Sixty-four young children out of 66, having been admitted to the largest children's hospitals in Cambodia since the end of April, were killed by Encephalitis.
Philippe Buchy, Head of Virology Unit at the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia, wrote in an e-mail on Sunday that 15 out of 24 patients with the encephalitis/pulmonary disease were tested positive for EV-71.
"These results now give a good explanation to this outbreak. We will get more results hopefully by next Tuesday or Wednesday," he wrote.
Cambodia's Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng said in the joint statement that further investigation is ongoing. "We hope to be able to conclude our investigation in the coming days," it said.
The EV-71 causes hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) which results in severe complications and deaths among some patients, said the statement.
HFMD is a common infectious disease of infants and children. The symptoms include fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and also buttocks, said the statement, adding that it is contagious and infection in spread from person to person by direct contact with nose or throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. Presently, there is no specific treatment available for HFMD.:tiphat:http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-07/09/c_131702487.htm
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CNN) -- Health officials continued on Monday to investigate the causes behind the mysterious deaths of 64 children in Cambodia after saying they had made an important discovery over the weekend.

The Institut Pasteur in Cambodia tested samples taken from 24 patients and found 15 had tested positive for Enterovirus Type 71 -- a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease that can also cause severe neurological complications, mainly in children.

"These results now give a good explanation to this outbreak," Dr. Philippe Buchy, head of the institute's virology unit, said in an e-mail over the weekend. "We will get more results hopefully by next Tuesday or Wednesday."

The World Health Organization also noted that a "significant proportion of the samples" had tested positive for EV71, but it cautioned that the outbreak had not been fully solved, and more analysis was needed.

Outbreaks of the enterovirus "occur periodically in the Asia-Pacific region," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brunei had its first major outbreak in 2006. China had an outbreak in 2008.

Though the detection of EV71 in Cambodia is significant, there may be other factors, said Dr. Beat Richner of Kantha Bopha hospitals.

...


http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/09/world/asia/cambodia-children-disease/index.html
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Well, that's new. I've never seen a report of S. suis before from Cambodia. Could this be the contaminant Dr. Richner is looking for?

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/09/world/asia/cambodia-children-disease/index.html

[snip]

The WHO said that other pathogens had been detected in the investigations, including dengue and Streptococcus suis. It added that samples tested negative for H5N1 and other influenza viruses.
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Update on unknown disease in Cambodia


Hong Kong (HKSAR) - The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 9) provided an update on the latest developments regarding an unknown disease in Cambodia.

According to the latest information from the Cambodian Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the Cambodian MoH reviewed all hospitalised cases and found 59 affected children, of whom 52 have died. The majority of affected children were under 3 years old, ranging from 3 months to 11 years old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.3:1.

A CHP spokesman said, "Laboratory findings revealed that a significant proportion of the samples tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV71), which causes hand, foot and mouth disease.

Other pathogens (e.g. dengue and Streptococcus suis) were also identified in some samples.

"The samples tested negative for influenza A/H5N1 and other influenza viruses, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Nipah (an emerging zoonotic virus which causes severe brain inflammation (encephalitis) or respiratory diseases).

Further investigation is ongoing to ascertain the exact nature of the outbreak."

The CHP is monitoring the disease outbreak in Cambodia closely. Another letter to doctors has been issued today to keep them abreast of the updated developments and to alert them to remain vigilant about febrile patients returning from Cambodia with respiratory and/or neurological symptoms.

The spokesman reminded members of the public to maintain their health vigilance while travelling abroad.



"Travellers should observe strict personal and food hygiene during travel, as well as measures against insect or mosquito bites. They are advised to consult doctors immediately if they develop fever," he added.

More travel health tips are available at DH's website www.travelhealth.gov.hk.


Source: HKSAR Government

http://7thspace.com/headlines/416457/update_on_unknown_disease_in_cambodia.html
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...5riPSA?docId=83bf3ab358a84393aca46c3b7688921c

Cambodian deaths tied to common child illness
By MARGIE MASON, Associated Press ? 16 minutes ago
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) ? A deadly form of a common childhood illness has been linked to the mysterious child deaths in Cambodia that sparked alarm after a cause could not immediately be determined, health officials said Monday.

Lab tests have confirmed that a virulent strain of hand, foot and mouth disease known as EV-71 is to blame for some of the 59 cases reviewed since April, including 52 deaths, according to a joint statement from the World Health Organization and Cambodian Health Ministry. The numbers were lowered from the initial report of 62 cases.

EV-71 is a virus that can result in paralysis, brain swelling and death. Most of the Cambodian cases involved children younger than 3 who experienced fever, respiratory problems that led to rapid shutdown and sometimes neurological symptoms.

Epidemiologists are still trying to piece together information about the cases by interviewing parents because some details may have been omitted or missing from medical charts and specimens were not taken from most children before they died, said Dr. Nima Asgari, who is leading the WHO investigation. Of 24 samples tested, 15 came back positive for EV-71.

"As far as I'm aware, EV-71 was not identified as a virus in Cambodia before," Asgari said, adding that based on the information now available it's likely that the majority of untested patients were infected with it.

"We are a bit more confident. We are hoping that we can come up with something a bit more conclusive in the next day or so," he said.

Hand, foot and mouth disease has been raging across Asia and usually causes a telltale rash. Blistering was only reported in some of the Cambodian cases, and it's possible that steroids administered by doctors could have masked the symptom or it may not have been recorded, he said.

The lab results also identified other diseases in some cases, including mosquito-borne dengue fever and Streptococcus suis, a germ commonly seen in pigs that sometimes infects people, often causing meningitis and hearing loss.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is spread by sneezing, coughing and contact with fluid from blisters or infected feces. It is caused by enteroviruses in the same family as polio. No vaccine or specific treatment exists, but illness is typically mild and most children recover quickly without problems.

The virus gets its name from the symptoms it causes, including rash, mouth sores and blisters covering the hands and feet. Many infected children don't get sick but can spread it to others.

Neighboring Vietnam has been battling a surging number of hand, foot and mouth disease cases for the past few years, with EV-71 also wreaking havoc there. Last year, the disease sickened more than 110,000 people and killed 166, mostly children whose immune systems were not strong enough to fend off the infection.

China is also experiencing an outbreak, and more than 240 people have died of the disease there this year, according to China's Health Ministry.

The Cambodia investigation is continuing, but the H5N1 bird flu virus, SARS and Nipah ? a deadly virus usually spread by fruit bats or pigs ? have all been ruled out.

AP Medical Writer Margie Mason contributed to this report from Hanoi, Vietnam.
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_820310.html

PHNOM PENH (REUTERS) - A virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease may have been responsible for some of the mysterious deaths of dozens of children in Cambodia since April, the Cambodian Health Ministry said in a joint statement with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Fifty-nine cases had been identified involving children between the ages of three months and 11 years, with the majority younger than three years old. In all, 52 had died but samples were not available in the majority of cases.
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Children's deaths in Cambodia linked to Hand, Mouth and Foot disease
Monday, 09 July 2012 Bridget Di Certo and Chhay Channyda
...
In 2011, there was an outbreak of HFM disease in Vietnam that had 98 fatalities.

However, that outbreak was associated with 42,673 non-fatal cases, a much lower mortality rate than appears in Cambodia?s outbreak.

WHO?s Asgari said initial reports of outbreaks would be of the sickest people and were bound to appear to have a higher mortality rate.

?Once you find the disease, you can do the investigation in the community and find there is a whole spectrum of the disease,? he said. ?There will be milder cases, a bigger denominator with a lower percentage of mortality.?

Asgari said he personally had never heard of EV71 appearing in Cambodia before.

In Cambodia, according the Ministry of Health and the WHO, out of 74 cases, 56 were fatal.

According to Kantha Bopha, the figure is 66 cases, with 64 fatalities.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index....ambodian-childrens-deaths-linked-to-ev71.html
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index....ambodian-childrens-deaths-linked-to-ev71.html

Children's deaths in Cambodia linked to Hand, Mouth and Foot disease .

Doctors have made a breakthrough in their efforts to identify the unknown and deadly illness that has claimed the lives of dozens of Cambodian children over the past four months.

Enterovirus 71, commonly associated with Hand, Foot and Mouth disease, has been singled out by virologists at Institut Pasteur as the explanation of the outbreak, according to emails from the head of the non-profit institute?s virology unit to the Ministry of Health and Kantha Bopha Children?s Hospital doctors sent on Friday and obtained by the Post yesterday.

HFM is endemic in Vietnam and virologists homed in on the EV71 strain after adapting investigative testing to detect recent mutations of the virus that have appeared in Cambodia?s neighbour.

World Health Organization epidemiologist Dr Nima Asgari said the findings had ?demystified? the situation, but added that they are ?still looking at the clinical picture?.

Institut Pasteur had tested 24 samples and found 15 exhibited EV71.

?[These results will be further investigated] in the next few days, and then we can say whether a significant majority of these patients had EV71,? Asgari said.
WHO country director Dr Pieter Van Maaren said the strain had not been easy to diagnose and that the investigation was ongoing.

?There is no immediate need for a travel advisory, and WHO has not planned anything as of today,? Van Maaren said, qualifying his remarks with the still-evolving understanding of the illness that the WHO and Ministry of Health say has killed 56 children.

However, Kantha Bopha, which first alerted the ministry of the outbreak, said in a statement yesterday that 64 children had died from the illness in their hospitals alone.

?[Children] develop in the last hours of their life a total destruction of the alveolus in the lungs,? founding doctor Beat Richner said of the atypical EV71 symptom in a statement yesterday.

?Still, we have yet to see what is really causing the deadly pulmonary complication and see if a toxic factor is playing a role too,? added Richner, who remains concerned the deaths may be triggered by maltreatment and drug intoxication in private clinics.

Minister of Health Mam Bunheng said that even though EV71 was not a new disease, it had taken officials a while to ?investigate thoroughly before we reveal publicly?.

?All people in Cambodian should be aware of good hygiene,? he added.

Ministry of Health officials said yesterday they were continuing to call on families to exercise good hygiene practices and to report all suspicious illness involving fever to hospitals.

?If children get fever and have a skin rash, please send them to hospital,? Ly Sovann, deputy director of the communicable disease department, said.

EV71 can cause severe complications of HFM disease including neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory problems and fatal cases of encephalitis.

No specific anti-viral therapy is available for EV71, however, the risk of infection is lowered significantly with high standards of personal and environmental hygiene, according to information on the virus published on the WHO website.

In 2011, there was an outbreak of HFM disease in Vietnam that had 98 fatalities.

However, that outbreak was associated with 42,673 non-fatal cases, a much lower mortality rate than appears in Cambodia?s outbreak.

WHO?s Asgari said initial reports of outbreaks would be of the sickest people and were bound to appear to have a higher mortality rate.

?Once you find the disease, you can do the investigation in the community and find there is a whole spectrum of the disease,? he said. ?There will be milder cases, a bigger denominator with a lower percentage of mortality.?

Asgari said he personally had never heard of EV71 appearing in Cambodia before.

In Cambodia, according the Ministry of Health and the WHO, out of 74 cases, 56 were fatal.

According to Kantha Bopha, the figure is 66 cases, with 64 fatalities.
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Well, it has, but I know what they mean...

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-07/09/content_15562581.htm

Deadly Cambodian disease not detected in China
Updated: 2012-07-09 19:55
By Shan Juan

A mysterious disease that has killed at least 52 children in Cambodia since April was not been detected in China, a Ministry of Health spokesman said.

Deng Haihua told a press conference on Monday that the ministry was "highly concerned" about the situation in Cambodia after the World Health Organization reported the undiagnosed illness to member countries.

"China has reported no such cases to date," Deng said.

International health experts working to identify the illness have found a link to a virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease, the WHO said in a statement.

Recent laboratory results showed a significant proportion of the samples tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes a lethal strain of hand, foot and mouth disease.

EV-71 is common in Asia, but was first detected in Cambodia.

The Cambodian health ministry has reported 59 cases of the undiagnosed illness in children aged 3 months to 11-years-old since mid-April. Of the 59 children, 52 died from the illness.

Symptoms of the unknown disease include high fever and rapid deterioration of respiratory function.

The WHO said identification of the viral strain was an important first step, but stressed more tests were needed to learn if the deceased children also suffered from other viruses.
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

Undiagnosed illness in Cambodia - update

9 JULY 2012 - As part of the continuing investigations into the undiagnosed illness, the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia is finalizing the review of all suspected hospitalised cases. This final review added an additional two cases between April to 5 July 2012, making the total number of children affected to be 59. Of these, 52 have died.

The age of the cases range from three months to 11 years old, with the majority being under three years old. The overall male: female ratio is 1.3:1.

Laboratory samples were not available for the majority of the cases as they died before appropriate samples could be taken.

Based on the latest laboratory results, a significant proportion of the samples tested positive for enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD). The EV-71 virus has been known to generally cause severe complications amongst some patients.

Additionally, a number of other pathogens, including dengue and streptococcus suis were identified in some of the samples. The samples were found to be negative for H5N1 and other influenza viruses, SARS and Nipah.

Further investigations into matching the clinical, laboratory and epidemiological information are ongoing, and are likely to be concluded in a few days.

WHO and partners, which include lnstitut Pasteur du Cambodge and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are assisting the Ministry of Health with this event.

The Government is also reinforcing awareness of good hygiene practices to the public, which includes frequent washing of hands.

Some facts on hand foot and mouth disease:
Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease of infants and children. The symptoms commonly observed include fever, painful sores in the mouth, and a rash with blisters on hands, feet and also buttocks.

HFMD is most commonly caused by coxsackievirus A16, which usually results in a mild self-limiting disease with a few complications. HFMD is also caused by enteroviruses, including enterovirus 71 (EV71) which has been associated with serious complications in certain groups, and may cause deaths.

HFMD mainly occurs amongst children under 10 years old. The usual period from infection to onset of symptoms is 3-7 days.

The disease usually begins with fever, poor appetite, malaise, and frequently with a sore throat. One or two days after fever onset, 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. A non-itchy skin rash develops over 1-2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash is usually located on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and may also appear on the buttocks and/or genitalia. A person with HFMD may not have symptoms, or may have only the rash or only mouth ulcers. In a small number of cases, children may experience a brief febrile illness, present with mixed neurological and respiratory symptoms and succumb rapidly from the disease.

HFMD virus is contagious and infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with nose or throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. Infected persons are most contagious during the first week of the illness but the period of communicability can last for several weeks. HFMD is not transmitted from pets or other animals. HFMD should not be confused with the different disease in animals called foot-and-mouth disease.

Presently, there is no specific treatment available for HFMD. Patients should drink plenty of water or other liquids and may require treatment of the symptoms.

Health care providers are advised to treat patients according to their symptoms and to refrain from using steroids.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_07_09/en/index.html
 
Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

If the outbreak should be expanding, authorities might consider to ask for compassionate use of the antiviral agent pleconaril.

From: Clinical Trial.gov: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00031512?term=pleconaril&rank=1

Pleconaril Enteroviral Sepsis Syndrome

This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.

First Received on March 6, 2002. Last Updated on December 8, 2011

Sponsor: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Information provided by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00031512


Purpose

A common group of viruses that infect humans are enteroviruses. Enteroviruses produce illnesses in children which may range from very mild (summer colds) to severe (infections of the brain, liver, and heart). The purpose of this study is to determine if a new drug called pleconaril helps treat babies with enteroviral sepsis. In addition, researchers are attempting to determine a safe and effective dose of pleconaril to help babies with this disease. Infants who are 15 days or younger when diagnosed with enteroviral disease are eligible for this study. Two out of 3 babies will be randomly assigned to receive Pleconaril and the other one out of three will receive a placebo (inactive substitute). Participants will be hospitalized while receiving study medication. Babies will receive standard treatment care for their symptoms and will be observed for their medical progress. Participants may be in the study for up to 2 years.


Condition / Intervention / Phase

Enteroviral Sepsis

Drug: Placebo
Drug: Pleconaril (VP63843)

Phase 2

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design:

Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)
Primary Purpose: Treatment


Official Title:

A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Virologic Efficacy Trial of Pleconaril in the Treatment of Neonates With Enteroviral Sepsis Syndrome

Resource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: Sepsis
U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):

Primary Outcome Measures: ?Percentage of patients shedding virus (as detected by viral culture) from the oropharynx (i.e. throat). [ Time Frame: 5 days after beginning study drug. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures: ?Change in baseline laboratory abnormalities [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, platelets, creatinine), reflecting either resolution or progression of enteroviral disease. [ Time Frame: Day 1 (at study enrollment), 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
?Duration (in days) of total hospitalization. [ Time Frame: At discharge from hospital. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
?Duration (in days) of shedding of virus (as detected by viral culture) from the rectum, oropharynx (i.e. throat), urine and serum. [ Time Frame: Day 1 (immediately prior to first dose of study drug), Days 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10 and 14. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
?Pleconaril pharmacokinetics. [ Time Frame: Days 1, 3 and 7. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
?Safety. [ Time Frame: After each clinical and safety evaluation during the treatment and follow-up period (through Day 180 +/- 14 days). ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
?Survival at two months of age. [ Time Frame: 2 months. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
?Survival at one year of age. [ Time Frame: 1 year. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
?Time (in days) to resolution of residual organ-related abnormalities following acute disease. [ Time Frame: Day(s) from onset of acute disease ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]


Enrollment: 61

Study Start Date: June 2001

Estimated Study Completion Date: September 2012

Primary Completion Date: September 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


Arms
Assigned Interventions

Placebo Comparator: Placebo
Placebo.

Drug: Placebo
Placebo.


Experimental: Pleconaril (VP63843)
The first dosing cohort received 5 mg/kg/dose oral every 8 hours for 7 days (21 doses) of a 40 mg/mL oral liquid formulation. Subsequent dosing cohorts are receiving 8.5 mg/kg/dose oral every 8 hours for 7 days (21 doses) of a 40 mg/mL oral suspension formulation.

Drug: Pleconaril (VP63843)
5 mg/kg /dose oral every 8 hours for 7 days (21 doses) of a 40 mg/mL oral liquid formulation and 8.5 mg/kg/dose oral every 8 hours for 7 days (21 doses) of a 40 mg/mL oral suspension formulation.

Detailed Description:
Enteroviral infection is a serious health problem in the newborn infant. Approximately 60-70% of infants diagnosed with enteroviral disease within the first 10 days of life acquire their infection by transmission from the mother at the time of delivery. Congenital infection is rare but often fatal. Perinatal transmission of enteroviral infections in newborn nurseries has also been implicated as an important route of spread of the disease in newborn infants and postnatal transmission of enteroviral infections during seasonal peaks of enterovirus activity occurs commonly. Thus, during periods of high prevalence of enterovirus infection in the community, there are many potential sources of infection both during and after discharge from the nursery, including the mother, other family members, and hospital staff. Approximately 75% of cases of neonatal enteroviral disease carry a benign outcome, with diagnosis and symptomatic treatment in non-intensive care unit settings. For the remainder of patients, more serious consequences can result from systemic enteroviral infection, including meningoencephalitis, cardiovascular collapse, myocarditis, or hepatitis. These last two organ-specific complications carry high mortality rates. Historically, symptom management and supportive care have been the rule in the management of these patients. No specific therapeutic intervention is currently available for the management of these gravely ill neonates. The current study will evaluate the antiviral drug pleconaril as a treatment for enterovial sepsis syndrome. This trial is a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the virologic efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of pleconaril in the treatment of severe enteroviral sepsis syndrome. Patients will be randomized 2:1 to drug or placebo. For enrollment into this trial, infants must have evidence of severe hepatic involvement, myocardial involvement, and/or consumptive coagulopathy. Their age must be 15 days or less at the time of the onset of disease symptoms. Enrollment will continue until 45 subjects with confirmed enteroviral disease have been enrolled. The primary objective of this investigation is to determine if administration of pleconaril to critically ill neonates with enteroviral sepsis syndrome results in more rapid clearance of virus from various body sites. Other objectives of this study are to assess the safety and pharmacokinetics of this drug in this patient population. The effects of pleconaril on measures of clinical outcome also will be evaluated. These include the degree of inotropic and blood product support required during the acute illness; duration of hospitalization; the time to resolution of residual organ injury; and short-term (at 2 months of age) and long-term (at 1 year of age) survival. The primary endpoint will be the percentage of patients shedding virus (as detected by viral culture) from the oropharynx (i.e. throat) 5 days after beginning study drug. The secondary endpoints will include: duration (in days) of shedding of virus (as detected by viral culture) from the oropharynx, rectum, urine, and serum; change in baseline laboratory abnormalities [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), bilirubin, platelets, creatinine), reflecting either resolution or progression of enteroviral disease; pleconaril pharmacokinetics; safety; duration (in days) of total hospitalization; survival at 2 months of age; time (in days) to resolution of residual organ-related abnormalities following acute disease; and survival at 1 year of age.

Eligibility


Ages Eligible for Study:
up to 15 Days

Genders Eligible for Study:
Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
?Signed informed consent statement by parent or legal guardian.
?Age less than or equal to 15 days at time of onset of disease symptoms. Symptoms of systemic illness include but are not limited to fever, irritability, poor feeding, emesis, or diarrhea. Signs of systemic illness include, but are not limited to, jaundice, seizures, or lethargy.
?Onset of disease symptoms less than or equal to 10 days (240 hours) prior to administration of first dose of study medication.
?Birth weight greater than or equal to 1500 grams.
?Gestational age of greater than or equal to 32 weeks.
?Suspected or proven enteroviral disease.
?
One or more of the following three conditions:
1.serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN);
2.platelet count less than 100,000 and prothrombin time greater than 1.5 times ULN and positive fibrin split products;
3.cardiac shortening fraction less than 25% or cardiac ejection fraction less than 50% as measured by echocardiography.

Exclusion Criteria:
?Diagnosis of bacterial or non-enterovirus viral pathogen that can produce the constellation of presenting symptoms, known at the time of study enrollment.
?Imminent demise (estimated life expectancy less than 24 hours).
?Cyanotic congenital heart lesion.
?Alimentary tract abnormalities which may interfere with the absorption of the study drug. These include mechanical obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract, necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe ileus (the definition of which is left to the clinical judgment of the participating investigator).
?Infants known to be born to women who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive (but HIV testing is not required for study entry). These infants are at known risk of acquiring HIV, which would alter their immune response to other infections, including enteroviral infections. Additionally, they may be receiving antiretroviral and/or antiviral drugs during the time in which the study of pleconaril is being conducted. As such, they will be excluded if the mother's positive HIV status is known at the time of evaluation for study inclusion. If at any point following enrollment it is learned that an infant is HIV positive, however, he/she will be continued on the study protocol.

Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00031512
Show 25 Study Locations
Sponsors and Collaborators
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

More Information
No publications provided


Responsible Party:
Director, ORA, HHS/NIAID/DMID

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT00031512 History of Changes

Other Study ID Numbers:
99-018, CASG 106, N01AI30025C

Study First Received:
March 6, 2002

Last Updated:
December 8, 2011

Health Authority:
Canada: Ethics Review Committee
United States: Federal Government
United States: Food and Drug Administration
United States: Institutional Review Board

Keywords provided by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID):

enterovirus, enteroviral sepsis, Pleconaril, infants
(...)

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Re: Cambodia - 74 pediatric cases of unknown disease- - 56 deaths - fever, respiratory and neurological symptoms - Enterovirus EV71 identified

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/301699/cambodian-kids-died-of-strain-detected-in-thailand

Cambodian kids died of strain detected in Thailand
Published: 10/07/2012 at 01:27 AM

The Disease Control Department has confirmed that the lethal hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) virus found in Cambodia is of the same strain previously detected in Thailand.

The virus suspected of being responsible for the deaths of more than 50 children in Cambodia is known as EV-71, said department director-general Pornthep Siriwanarangsan after receiving a report from the WHO and the Cambodian Health Ministry.

Dozens of Thai children nationwide fell ill with HFMD last month, although there have been no fatalities.

"It is the same viral strain detected in Thailand," Dr Pornthep said.

"To prevent it we must separate infected children from uninfected ones until they recover from the disease."

Lab tests in Phnom Penh have confirmed EV-71 is to blame for some of the 59 cases reviewed in Cambodia since April, including 52 deaths, according to a joint statement from the WHO and the Cambodian Health Ministry.

EV-71 is a virus that can result in paralysis, brain swelling and death.

Most of the Cambodian cases involved children under three with fevers, rapid shutdown of the respiratory system and sometimes neurological problems.

The Thai Public Health Ministry has alerted its provincial health offices nationwide over the spread of the virus causing HFMD in Cambodia.

The ministry is working closely with its Cambodian counterpart on efforts to control the spread of HFMD, Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said yesterday.

Although HFMD is a common disease, the type of virus believed to have killed the Cambodian children is a more virulent strain, Dr Surawit said.

Provincial health offices, particularly in border areas, are being instructed to work with the Disease Control Department and the Department of Health to carry out a surveillance programme to watch for signs of possible HFMD infections at schools and childcare centres.

Dr Surawit said 10,813 HFMD cases were reported in Thailand from January to the end of last month, about twice the number of cases reported during the same period last year.

Institut Pasteur du Cambodge found EV-71, or enterovirus 71, in 15 of 24 patients sampled since mid-June, said Philippe Buchy, head of the Phnom Penh-based institute's virology unit, on Sunday.
 
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