Stricter hand, foot, mouth disease measures needed
The Ministry of Health has called for tighter control of the hand, foot, mouth disease outbreak as six children have died of the disease.
Head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, Dang Quang Tan, said even though the situation was serious, the total number of patients was still lower than last year by 25%. Most of the cases are in big cities such as Danang, Hanoi, HCM City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Ninh Thuan and Tay Ninh.
The illness spreads by contact with an infected person's nasal secretions or throat discharge. It is mostly detected in children and spreads very quickly. Health departments, educational facilities and localities authorities were asked to work together to curb the disease and hold promotion programmes at schools.
Nursery schools must ensure that the toys and the facilities are clean. In case any child falls ill, they must immediately report to the local authorities for timely health check-ups and disinfection. Hospitals must be careful to prevent cross infection cases.
The illness surged in the southern provinces in August and September. HCM City hospitals receive over 300 cases every week.
Some days, over 200 patients were admitted to the Children's Hospital 1 in HCM City, over 50% have EV71 virus which can cause illness ranging from mild through to serious with life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure and heart failure. From September 14 to 20, 286 patients were admitted to hospital because of hand, foot, mouth disease, an increase of 47% compared to the same period the previous month.
Ministry of Health has called for tighter control of the hand, foot, mouth disease
Head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, Dang Quang Tan, said even though the situation was serious, the total number of patients was still lower than last year by 25%. Most of the cases are in big cities such as Danang, Hanoi, HCM City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Ninh Thuan and Tay Ninh.
The illness spreads by contact with an infected person's nasal secretions or throat discharge. It is mostly detected in children and spreads very quickly. Health departments, educational facilities and localities authorities were asked to work together to curb the disease and hold promotion programmes at schools.
Nursery schools must ensure that the toys and the facilities are clean. In case any child falls ill, they must immediately report to the local authorities for timely health check-ups and disinfection. Hospitals must be careful to prevent cross infection cases.
The illness surged in the southern provinces in August and September. HCM City hospitals receive over 300 cases every week.
Some days, over 200 patients were admitted to the Children's Hospital 1 in HCM City, over 50% have EV71 virus which can cause illness ranging from mild through to serious with life-threatening complications such as respiratory failure and heart failure. From September 14 to 20, 286 patients were admitted to hospital because of hand, foot, mouth disease, an increase of 47% compared to the same period the previous month.
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