China: EV-71 outbreak Kills 43 Children Nationwide, 24,934 Children infected

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Re: China: EV-71 outbreak Kills 43 Children Nationwide, 24,934 Children infected

Source: http://news.21cn.com/zhuanti/social/shouzukou/anhui/2008/05/09/4702110.shtml

Fuyang because of a hand, foot and mouth disease fate of Sadness
2008-05-09 14:48:13

Map on May 1, Anhui Fuyang, a hospital pediatrics ward, the EV71 virus intestinal infection in children under the care of parents receiving treatment. China news agency, Yinghui perturbation

Disaster, China will this small town once again pushed to the front of the world

International Herald Herald on May 9 reported a Laishixiongxiong the epidemic, a city will push the outlet Langjian. The spring of 2008, Fuyang, Anhui Province in northwest China at this level of the city, because of an intestinal virus called EV71 become the focus of attention of the world. As of May 5, 24, gastro-intestinal infection cases in Fuyang the total number of 4,929 cases, the death toll to 22 people.

In the growing number and frequency of a press conference held between international agencies and foreign media's shadow quite eye-catching. Disaster, the Chinese city of Fuyang this again pushed to the front of the world.

Difficult to erase the sad city

All along, the city of Fuyang seems to be difficult to shake off the fate of Sadness. This time, the foreign media in reporting on the EV71, but also not forget that the first outbreak of the epidemic - Fuyang the past.

"Fuyang is a 170,000 population (for 9 million) of the city, four years ago it was scandal-plagued public health security. At that time, China's milk poisoning kills people, Fuyang is one of the hardest hit." Singapore "Lianhe Zaobao" reported in a seemingly casual, in fact, Fuyang most easily be opened one of the scars.

After the outbreak of EV71 virus, the Chinese netizens on the Fuyang "Taofa" constantly, someone is listed "Fuyang Events", the construction of luxury office buildings will be local, "White House", corruption court in Fuyang, "Woan", and drugs such as milk powder incident list Together, to prove that Fuyang has been "occupied."

Because of shooting "Yingzhou City children" and received an Oscar nomination for best short documentaries of the American Chinese director Ruby Yang, tracking shot of the Fuyang Yingzhou City area families affected by AIDS. The most talked about shooting touch in the course of their scene, she said: "I clearly smelled a flavor - the taste death."

To some extent, Fuyang is indeed embarrassing. There are even foreign media in Hong Kong comment on the corrupt officials, they did not forget to dig in Fuyang. Canada, Global Network To illustrate "how small the corrupt officials", used the example is the contrast in Fuyang.

Fuyang, a foreign reporter's observation

In the real issues before us and the outside world Zhiyi Sheng, the city again to Tongdingsitong, Fuyang, who began a "self-salvation", although this process is slow and difficult steps of the subject.

"When I started contact with the outside world, slowly I know, I support that this health of my home in the eyes of outsiders is only poverty and backwardness of corruption, is now the home has been devastated, I am sorry for my hometown." 1 Youzi of Fuyang in the blog wrote: see countless people to the mercy of Fuyang asked bitterly sarcastic scolded, I could not help tears, the pain that was my hometown ah! Qingheyikan!

The media will be EV71 virus, and four years ago with inferior milk powder incident, a local people in Fuyang accept the "International Herald Herald" in an interview that "relatively disgusted." "Just because we have Fuyang There were some things that many people Jiushichongti, make improper speculation and irresponsible." The condition of anonymity, that the inferior milk powder incident in Fuyang, were also victims, "not a milk factory Anhui is the "," we can not say that is the fault of Fuyang. "

Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao in Shanghai, Ho Wei Xi, is this going to an interview with foreign reporters in Fuyang one. In an interview two days in Fuyang City of experience, her lot in this city with emotion.

Although she did not agree with the many past and present will Fuyang negative news linked to the practice, but she is the "International Herald Guide," explained her intuitive feeling: "To be honest, I think the local people's awareness of prevention is still relatively weak Of. "Fuyang in the two days Mr Xi Wei do not see a person wearing masks.

But in some respects, Mr Xi Wei Fuyang that there is still changing. She interviewed the evaluation process is "okay okay," an example, she interviewed Fuyang City Hand, Foot and mouth disease prevention and control work at the headquarters were answered.

WHO territory of the Fuyang City Landmark

As for the World Health Organization (WHO), is not a stranger to the Fuyang City. Whether the bulk of babies in 2004, or even earlier the HIV crisis, WHO officials have repeatedly visit the city to assist the analysis of the epidemic, the programme of treatment for crack them. Compared with the past, this time, WHO's voice seems to be more resounding.

"China Eastern a common childhood diseases lead to the outbreak of dozens of child deaths, though not enough to cause panic, but has drawn the attention of the World Health Organization officials." April 29, that is, Fuyang City People's Hospital, director of pediatrics Dr. Liu Xiaolin issued a warning a month after the epidemic, the United States, "the Wall Street Journal" reported the case.

"Wall Street Journal" reported that, despite the prevalence of Chinese children result in the virus family on a global scale have found, but the World Health Organization officials in Beijing said the situation should be cause for concern, especially with the current mortality rate in previous years Compared with a rise.

At the same time, the Chinese media began to appear on the relevant information on the issue of transparency Zhiyi Sheng. The lessons of SARS have experienced the Chinese people realize that the local government Chibao,-reporting, often misrepresent the epidemic could become a booster to accelerate the spread of the epidemic. Although authorities in Fuyang City of Anhui Province and deny the existence of several public-reporting problems, but people still continue to challenge, until the WHO shots.

May 1, the World Health Organization praised China for the rapid response, so that the mortality rate of the second half of April from March 10 to 31 of the 11 percent decline to 0.2%. For the first death in the end of March, but it was not until April 15 before the local government first open condition, WHO said that understanding, in China or on behalf of Hanzhuo (Hans Troedsson) that this was because the cause of the difficulty of existence .

WHO on the support of China in Fuyang City, and also reflected in the timely release of information on the authority. "I think it's the Beijing Olympic Games as well as any other race does not pose a threat?? This is a disease mainly of infant diseases." Hanzhuo or said.
(Editor: corn seedlings)

 

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Re: China: EV-71 outbreak Kills 43 Children Nationwide, 24,934 Children infected

Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-06/27/content_6800459.htm

Targeting an epidemic before it hurts
By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-06-27 07:38

Five years ago, an epidemic of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, better known as SARS, showed the authorities the benefits of transparency in reporting and handling a health crisis.

In a similar vein, this year's outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) - which peaked at 11,501 daily reported cases on May 14 - has forced both central and local health authorities to find and plug loopholes in their surveillance of and response to epidemics.

HFMD can be caused by a host of intestinal viruses, but enterovirus 71 (EV71) is considered one of the more common ones that can cause a severe form of the disease.

The disease usually starts with a slight fever followed by blisters and ulcers in the mouth, and rashes on the hands and feet. Those affected by the EV71 often have serious symptoms, which can lead to meningitis, encephalitis, pulmonary edema and paralysis in some children.

HFMD itself is spread through direct contact with the mucus, saliva, or feces of an infected person.

EV71 is a frequent cause of HFMD epidemics associated with neurological disease in a small proportion of cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

HFMD cases, with a number having EV71 as the causative agent, hit 176,321 and including 40 fatalities - mostly involving children - on the Chinese mainland in May alone, the Ministry of Health reported.

Local Beijing health officials also warned this week that summer remains a peak season for HFMD.

The deaths of children from pneumonia-like symptoms first occurred in Fuyang, Anhui province, in late March.

The HFMD outbreak was confirmed and made public nationwide about a month later on April 27 - four days after the EV71 was identified in the cases.

By then, the number of recorded HFMD infections soared to more than 1,000 in Fuyang alone, including 20 fatalities.

The virus also spread to neighboring Henan province.

The sharp rise in the number of infections was mainly due to the fact that the virus spreads via routine contact, medical experts have explained. Infected adults can also pass on the virus to others, particularly children, even though they develop no serious symptoms other than rashes on hands.

"The longer people are kept in dark, the more likely they will get infected," said Yang Weizhong, the deputy chief of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adding that people can be caught unawares and not take any preventive measures.

Questions have been raised as to why it took so long for the public to be informed of the infectious disease. Although there is currently no vaccine available for the disease, measures such as hand washing and other ways of keeping personal hygiene have been known to be effective in guarding against the infection.

A number of contributing factors have been cited for the delay.

Before May 2, HFMD was not listed as an infection that had to be reported.

"It was beyond our scope to publicize the epidemic without accreditation from higher authority," said Wang Hao, spokesman for the Fuyang government.

Procedural delays were also cited.

The doctor who raised the alarm for the epidemic was pediatrician Liu Xiaolin, of Fuyang No 1 Hospital, after she saw two youngsters die "in front of my eyes, within hours", on the night of March 28.

Liu first attributed the deaths to lung infection, although the HFMD caused by EV71 is associated with neurological disease.

Upon receiving the death report from Liu on March 29, experts from the local Fuyang health bureau and the CDC immediately started lab work, discussions, and other research, to find out the definite cause of the deadly disease, said Yan Wei, deputy director of the Fuyang health bureau.

Meanwhile, the alert on what was known of the infection was sent out, but only to local hospitals to strengthen surveillance.

Yan and his colleagues had little to work on. Last year, a total of eight HFMD cases, including one adult, was reported in Fuyang.

"It must have been underreported, as the infection was not listed as one that had to be reported before May," said Ni Daxin, a leading researcher at the CDC.

Ni said no lab test had ever been taken in Fuyang to figure out the specific virus behind the disease.

Unable to pin down the cause of the latest outbreak in three days, Yan and his colleagues immediately turned to the provincial health authority, reporting the epidemic on March 31.

However, it took the provincial health authority another 14 days to report the outbreak to the Ministry of Health.

Above all, there was the difficulty of verifying the virus for a public dissemination of the health threat that was already overdue, said Yang from the CDC.

Feng Zijian, director of the emergency response department of the CDC, attributed the challenging verification process to complicated lab tests, which could take up a lot of time.

"In the initial stages of the probe, efforts were expended to rule out serious viral diseases like SARS, bird flu and meningitis," he said.

At that time, the CDC labs in most provinces already had the capacity for EV71 testing and confirmation.

"If you know you are looking for the EV71 virus, it takes a very short time to verify the virus; if you don't know and have a case in front of you of an unknown disease, of course it can take a month, or even longer," said WHO China Representative Hans Troedsson.

Yang Hui, who lives in the suburb of Fuyang and has a 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old boy, still laments why it took so long for people like her to learn about ways to prevent HFMD.

"My boy was in the intensive care unit of the People's Hospital of Fuyang for nearly a week," she told China Daily on May 2, as she waited for the doctor to see her daughter who developed rashes on her hands at the hospital.

"If we were told earlier about the problem, even if the information was not accurate and detailed, I would not have delayed treatment for my boy and my girl might not have been infected," she said.

When Yang first learnt about EV71 on April 27 through a radio program, she received from the village clinic a thermometer, a bottle of disinfectant, and a brochure explaining how the viral disease can be transmitted simply through the sharing of eating utensils and how, in most cases, it can be prevented.

"That knowledge came too late," she said.

The early deaths from the viral infection were largely caused by delayed and improper treatment, themselves a result of ignorance of the illness, pediatrician Liu Xiaolin said.

HFMD is now listed with 37 other contagious diseases, including SARS, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, as a notifiable infection.

Cheng Xiaodong, a public health professor with Wuhan University, said that government agencies should learn to become more media savvy to publicize issues closely related to people's life and health, without delay and in a mutually accepted way.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: China: EV-71 outbreak Kills 43 Children Nationwide, 24,934 Children infected

Source: http://news.sina.com/oth/phoenixtv/301-106-106-106/2008-06-27/18413022261.html

Beijing EV71 virus died of a baby girl at the hospital without performance of hand, foot and mouth disease

http://news.sina.com 2008年06月27日18:41 Phoenix Satellite TV

The day before yesterday, (Beijing) Municipal Health Bureau confirmed that, 21 children in the capital of the Institute rescue the baby Ruirui (a pseudonym), the EV71 virus infection rescue died.

The day before yesterday, informed the Municipal Public Health Bureau said that half of the 1-year-old baby girl on the 21st Ruirui was sent to the capital of the Institute for Pediatric treatment. Hospital to have a light coma, but not the performance of hand, foot and mouth disease.

Emergency consultations by experts, the hospital that patients may be infected with enterovirus EV71 immediately virology testing, and to give emergency treatment. After nine hours after the rescue treatment died. Virology testing for children with confirmed EV71 infection.

Yesterday, the father of Mr. Zhao Ruirui, taking into account the official cause of death has been released, he had to give up their children to do the autopsy and prosecution of hospitals and plans today cremated remains of her daughter. (JIA Peng)