Asia is concerned about the outbreak of foot and mouth disease

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) worries people and governments in many Asian countries, while experts claim that HFMD can be prevented and controlled, without panic.

HFMD usually occurs in young children with fever symptoms, pimples in the mouth and palms, feet. Viruses in a group called enterovirus are the cause of the epidemic.

HFMD is sometimes caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71). This virus can cause meningitis, sometimes more serious symptoms such as encephalitis, heart lung damage.

There have been individual cases and the outbreak of HFMD on a worldwide scale usually occurs in the summer and early fall. In recent decades, there have been major outbreaks of HFMD by EV71 in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia in 1997 and Taiwan in 1998.

Medical examination for children in China

A large number of children have HFMD

In Asia, this year, some countries broke out of HFMD with a larger number than in previous years.

So far, China has recorded 27,499 HFMD cases, of which 34 have died.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam announced 3,000 cases of HFMD this year (more than the total number of cases in 2007). About 10-20% of these were caused by EV71, 10 people died.

On Wednesday, according to Singapore's Minister of Health, many kindergartens and childcare centers in the country have closed, with the announcement, the number of HFMD cases increased by 75% from last year (10,490 people). as of this time of the year.

Do not be too scared

Child's hand with foot and mouth disease.(Photo: Accesskent)

Although HFMD is booming in many countries, and this time also started the peak season of disease, many experts still insist that people do not need to be too afraid.

The spread and the number of deaths due to increased HFMD in China this year is not unusual, said Trung Nam Son, a famous Chinese medical expert.

According to Trung, there are two main reasons why people misunderstand because of the rapid increase of HFMD in China this year. First, it is the Ministry of Health of China issued a circular on May 2, asking local health authorities and hospitals to inform HFMD, thus leading to an understanding of the case of a rapid increase in HFMD. here.

Second, after the SARS epidemic in 2003, Chinese people were very cautious and attentive to the epidemic. More and more people come to medical centers for counseling and medical examination, making the number of people reporting the infection much higher than in previous years.

According to Trung, HFMD is a disease that can be controlled and prevented, people do not need to be too scared after applying appropriate control measures.

On Friday, an official from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the United States has also experienced outbreaks of HFMD and does not need to be too worried about the disease if there are measures. Legal prevention and treatment.

Most cases of HFMD in the United States are caused by A16 virus, and the treatment is usually to reduce fever, reduce pain caused by mouth ulcers. The risk of intestinal virus transmission may be reduced if effective hygiene measures such as frequent hand washing and avoid close contact with HFMD patients are performed.

Talking about the situation of HFMD in China, Hans Troedsson, representative of the World Health Organization in China, said it is too early to conclude the worst situation of past epidemics. However, the latest figures for cases are decreasing. "I don't think this is an uncontrollable disease," WHO officials said .