The public is urged to remain vigilant
as Secretary of Health Enrique Ona today confirmed Enterovirus-71
(EV-71) infection in one of several suspected hand, foot and mouth
disease (HFMD) cases reported to the Department of Health (DOH).
Secretary Ona announced the results done
on eight suspected HFMD patients reported to the DOH from July 10 to
14. Screening and confirmatory tests were done at the Research Institute
of Tropical Medicine on throat, stool or vesicular fluid collected from
these cases.
There was one female among the suspected
HFMD cases. Age ranged from one year to 29 years. Six came from Region
IV-A (CALABARZON) and two were from Davao.
These patients had mild disease and had
skin lesions in the hand, feet and, mouth. Five were admitted in the
hospital while the rest were sent home. Four of those who were admitted
already went home after a brief stay in the wards.
Of the eight suspected HFMD, six tested
positive for the screening test. After the confirmatory test, all but
one was negative for EV-71. These will be further tested for Coxsackie
A16, which is also associated with HFMD.
Sec. Ona confirmed that a one-year and
seven-month old boy from Davao City tested positive for the EV-71. The
boy developed fever and rashes on his hands, soles of feet mouth, and
buttocks last July 6. The boy had no history of travel outside the
country. A consultation was sought at a local health facility. He was
sent home and has since recovered very well. No other cases were
reported in their household nor in the community.
Meanwhile, physicians representing
hospitals in Metro Manila and Medical Societies met today at the DOH
National Epidemiology Center for an orientation on the Guidelines in the
Surveillance and Clinical Case Management of HFMD.
“Prevention relies on individual
personal hygiene and hand washing; shared toys or teaching tools in
daycare should be cleaned, washed and disinfected as they easily become
contaminated, ” Secretary Ona said.
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