Health warning in China as fears grow over child virus

[FourScore]

Cases of a virus that has killed 24 young children and infected more than 5,000 may continue to rise despite efforts to contain it, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned yesterday.

Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes a severe strain of hand, foot and mouth disease, normally peaks in June and July. Experts fear that infections could increase as the weather becomes warmer.

With hundreds more cases emerging every day, China's health ministry has stepped up efforts to contain its spread, closing nurseries at the centre of the outbreak in Fuyang, eastern Anhui province, where 22 of the deaths occurred. State television showed workers spraying disinfectant around houses in rural areas.

This weekend it issued a nationwide alert, calling for heightened efforts to control the spread of infectious diseases - including hepatitis A and measles as well as hand, foot and mouth. It warned that the drive was needed "to guarantee the smooth staging of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and to practically preserve social stability".

But WHO China representative, Hans Troedsson, told a press conference: "I don't see it at all as a threat to the Olympics or any upcoming events."

There is no vaccine or cure for hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is characterised by fever, sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters. It is a common illness among infants and children and is not usually fatal.

However, the virus EV-71 can result in a more serious form of the illness and complications including meningitis and heart problems can prove fatal.

All of those taken ill have been under six, and most have been under two...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/05/china.health