Philippines-Health office monitors 22 #EV71 cases #HFMD

Saturday, July 28, 2012

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) said Friday they are closely monitoring 22 suspected cases of Enterovirus 71, commonly called as EV71, said to be a fatal strain of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, CHO chief, told Sun.Star Davao that of the 22 suspected cases of EV71 infections, only tissue samples from 17 children have been taken and were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Alabang, in Metro Manila, for confirmatory test.

Based on the fact sheet issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), HFMD is a common infectious disease among children and infants. Among its symptoms include fever, painful sore in the mouth, rashes with blisters on hand, feet, and or in the buttocks.

The other week, the RITM confirmed the city's first case of EV71 infection from a tissue sample taken from a 19-month-old boy. Although the boy has no travel history, Villafuerte said its family has had several foreign visitors at home including Singaporean and Korean nationals.
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Of the 22 suspected cases of EV71 infections, majority are males aging between nine months old and 10 years old.

Tissue samples were taken from pediatric patients who showed all the signs and symptoms for HFMD and were all sent to RITM since the city has no medical facilities that has the capability to confirm the particular viral infection..


http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2012/07/28/health-office-monitors-22-ev71-cases-234433