More virus-hit schools to shut (HFMD)

[PeteC]

This seems especially bad this year. A strain of this, as mentioned below, was the mystery disease that killed many kids in Cambodia. Pete

More virus-hit schools to shut
HFMD outbreak may last 2 months, ministry says

Published: 18/07/2012 at 02:30 AM
Newspaper section: News

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... ls-to-shut (MAP OF PROVINCES WITH HIGHEST INFECTION RATES)

More schools will be ordered to close temporarily as the Health Ministry battles to curb the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak.

The ministry is also racing against time to prevent a more dangerous and potentially lethal strain of the virus found in Cambodia from taking hold.

The spread of HMFD will probably continue for another month or two, the ministry warned yesterday.

Wattana Wittayalai School in Watthana district of the capital is the latest to shut after four kindergarten children were found to have contracted HFMD.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri yesterday said HFMD infections will continue and spread in several provinces because schools are already open and the rainy season is under way.

As of yesterday, nearly 30 schools in Bangkok had either closed or suspended some classes after students were found to have caught the disease.

Health authorities have been told to monitor the situation closely and set up a provincial-level operation centre when the number of HFMD cases rises to more than 10 in one day, he said.

It is part of the Public Health Ministry's six-point surveillance plan which also aims to prevent the potentially deadly enterovirus type 71 (EV-71) strain, which has killed dozens of children in Cambodia, from striking in Thailand.

Mr Witthaya said the temporary shutdown of schools is necessary to curb the outbreak of HFMD, a viral infection that affects mostly children.

"Closing down schools is part of the measures to contain the disease and protect the children.

"Shutdowns may be required and there is no need to panic," he said.

Charnvit Tapsupan, secretary-general of the Office of Private Education Commission (OPEC), said the school will probably announce the suspension of all kindergarten, Prathom 1 (Grade 1) and Prathom 2 classes.

He said the OPEC has recommended suspension of classes at the three levels because children in this age group are most susceptible to HFMD infection.

He said it is not known how long classes will be suspended.

Deputy Public Health Minister Surawit Khonsomboon said the cabinet agrees with the Public Health Ministry's six-point plan to curb the outbreak.

Under the plan, the Public Health, Education and Interior ministries will also coordinate efforts to monitor the disease, especially in child care centres.

Advisories on hygiene and how to spot the infection will also be sent to schools and communities, he said.

He said there is no need to panic over the school closures which will allow them to be thoroughly disinfected of the virus.

He added that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has emphasised the need for the three ministries to coordinate efforts to contain HFMD.

Deputy Bangkok governor Malinee Sukvejvorakij said measures are being stepped up to contain the spread of the disease, especially at schools.

Wongwat Liwlak, chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s Communicable Diseases Control Division, said the BMA is focusing its efforts on childcare centres and kindergartens.

They have been told to inform the BMA's health centres when a HFMD case is suspected so a rapid response team can be sent in, he said.

Elsewhere, two child care centres in Lampang's Muang district were closed after more than 10 children were diagnosed with HFMD.

Health authorities in Ayutthaya are closely monitoring a possible outbreak of HFMD at a privately run elementary school after 16 students came down with a high fever on Monday.

The students, all from the same class in Prathom 4, were sent home as a precautionary measure.

In Ubon Ratchathani, the provincial kindergarten school has been closed for disinfection.

[elem]

...seems it has hit HH and Takiab now, w 3 children infected.. (BKKP)

[PeteC]

Deadly Enterovirus 71 strain found in 2-year-old girl who died last week, hospital admits
The Nation on Sunday July 22, 2012 1:00 am

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 86712.html

The deadly Enterovirus 71 has been found in the throat of a two-year-old who died at a Bangkok hospital last week although the child had no symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

Dr Passakorn Chaiwanich, director of Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, where the girl died, said yesterday that doctors found the deadly virus - responsible for the death of dozens of Cambodian children recently - in the Thai girl's throat but no symptoms had been recognised. He said that the virus attacked the victim's lungs, brain and heart.

Permanent Secretary for Health Paijit Warachit had said on Thursday that the girl's death, on that same day, was not caused by the HFMD contagion.

Passakorn said that the hospital and Public Health Ministry did not intend to conceal the truth, as the hospital's initial check did not find the virus. It was later found that Enterovirus 71 attacked the victim's lungs, brain and heart.

"Also, we found Enterovirus 71 four or five years ago that killed a patient. Normally, 10 per cent of people infected with this kind of virus succumb to the disease as it can spread to many physical systems in the patients quickly," he said.

However, the Public Health Ministry has not confirmed that she died from HFMD. Dr Paijit said the lab test result of the hospital showing the exact cause of the girl's death would be handed to the ministry, then it would be considered by a committee of virus experts next week to finally conclude if she died from HFMD. The consideration would be based on epidemiology, clinical symptoms and the lab-test result.

In related news, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials are closely monitoring the HFMD outbreak. It has issued five measures to prevent the spread of the disease, including checking all children's health before they enter nurseries, schools and amusement parks in shopping malls in "risky areas".

It plans to separate patients suspected of being infected with HFMD for seven days, to clean toys, utensils and places, give out information on how to prevent the disease being spread to relevant officers, parents and people, as well as give treatments to HFMD patients according to the ministry's guidelines.

In Kanchanaburi, four more children have been found with HFMD. So far, 338 people in this province have caught the disease.

Officials in Si Sa Ket's Phu Sing district have strictly screened Cambodian children travelling through the Chong Sangam border crossing point with their parents to see if they have the disease.

With Cambodia having closed primary schools and kindergartens for two months to stop the spread of HFMD, more Cambodian children have accompanied their parents who cross the border to Thailand.

Authorities at the four border checkpoints in Sa Kaeo province have been seriously checking Cambodian children. Any found with the flu have been refused entry into Thailand until a hospital in Cambodia issues a document guaranteeing that they have not got HFMD. They are also providing hand gel for all Cambodians to clean their hands before entering Thailand.

So far, the authorities have not found Enterovirus 71 infection among any such children.

[JimmyGreaves]

I hear Salesian K1 pupils have a week off because of it

[PeteC]

HFMD virus tested for mutation
PM and doctors warn against health panic

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... r-mutation

Published: 23/07/2012 at 01:38 AM
Newspaper section: News

A sample of Enterovirus-71, or EV-71, is being tested for mutation after it was found in the body of a toddler suspected of being the first fatal case of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Thailand this year.

Department of Medical Sciences spokesman Wattana U-wanich said the agency is testing for mutations of the virus as part of a normal procedure.

"The testing is a normal procedure because viruses are always changing and evolving. Significant changes may make it easier for a person to get infected," Dr Wattana said.

The two-and-a-half-year girl died on Wednesday at Bangkok's Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital.

A throat culture exhibited EV-71 but a lumbar puncture test and stool examination did not reveal the strain.

The results will be submitted to the Department of Disease Control (DDC), which will decide on the actions to be taken, Dr Wattana said.

Dr Wattana said EV-71 is not new to Thailand and a number of strains of HFMD are known to cause serious complications, including heart and respiratory problems.

EV-71 is one of the two most common causes of HFMD. The other virus is Coxsackie A.

The toddler had showed no related symptoms of the disease, such as blisters on the hands, feet and mouth or any rash. She suffered damage to her heart, lungs and brain.

Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, DDC's director general, said the cause of the girl's death will be discussed at a meeting on Wednesday.

He said that the media should not jump to any conclusions until the cause is clearly established.

He urged the media to focus news coverage on vigilance against HFMD and called on families to take children exhibiting symptoms to the hospital as soon as possible to avoid serious complications.

"One lesson learned from this case is that the sooner a patient sees a doctor, the better," he said.

Dr Pornthep also stressed that there was no need to panic following the girl's death.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the HFMD situation is under control.

Ms Yingluck said she was closely monitoring the outbreak of the disease and had received no report of HFMD-related fatalities.

Meanwhile, health authorities across the country are stepping up vigilance against an outbreak of the disease, especially at kindergartens and childcare centres.

In Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district, people entering the country from Myanmar are being screened for fever and advised to maintain personal hygiene to prevent spreading HFMD.

In Phichit, health officials are conducting spot checks for HFMD at childcare centres and kindergartens.

Children under five are being screened for fever and sent to the hospital if they have high temperature, even if they have no mouth sores or rash.

In Ubon Ratchathani, Na Tan hospital yesterday reported three suspected cases of HFMD.

Akaraphuchit Palanant, a doctor at the hospital, said the three children are under observation and will have to undergo further screenings.

He also warned of a possible outbreak of swine flu, saying it tends to occur during this time of the year.

Dr Akaraphuchit recommended following good hygiene practices such as frequently washing hands, saying this was a really simple step that reduced the risk of contracting the disease.