Advisory on Enterovirus (EV71) Outbreak28 May 2008
The Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong advises all Filipinos in Hong Kong on the outbreak of an intestinal virus in Central China called Enterovirus 71 or EV71. The Consulate received reports from Philippine Consulate Generals of Shanghai and Guangzhou concerning a number of HFMD cases caused by EV71 in Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and the municipalities of Beijing and Chongquing. EV71 is a variant of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) which is a common illness to infants and children below 10 years old, but can also affect adults. It thrives in humid and hot conditions. It is less sensitive to ether, dechlorination cholate, and cannot be killed by 75% alcohol or 5% Lysol disinfectants. It is however sensitive to ultraviolet radiation and dry conditions and can be killed by various oxidants (e.g., potassium permanganate, calcium oxychloride), formaldehyde, and iodine. The symptoms of EV71 are more severe thatn the typical HFMD as the person infected acquires not only rashes or herpes in the hand, foot, buttocks, or mouth, but may also experience loss of appetite, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, headache, and fever as high as 38 degrees centigrade. The health of the person infected also quickly deteriorates that may eventually lead to encephalitis, encephalomyetis, meningitis, pneumonedema, or circulatory collapse, which are life threatening if not treated immediately. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with the person infected, having touched or inhaled his nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or his stool, using his personal belongings, and drinking water or eating food infected by the virus. A person with EV71 is most contagious during the first week of the illness. There is no vaccine yet for EV71, and experts are still trying to find an effective treatment. Nevertheless, the risk of acquiring the disease and infection can be lowered by observing good hygienic and other common practices. All Filipinos in Hong Kong are, therefore, cautioned to 1) maintain good hygiene (e.g., frequent hand washing, disinfection of contaminated areas, using only his of her personal belongings), 2) avoid going to crowded places, 3) avoid having direct contact with the identified infected person, 4) drink boiled or safe water and eat cooked and clean food only, 5) keep windows open for proper ventilation, 6) be exposed to the sun as frequently as possible, and 7) seek immediate medical treatment if get infected by the virus.
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