The Health Bureau (SSM) reported a collective case of enterovirus involving six children from The Workers’ Children High School’s kindergarten in Avenida Marginal do Lam Mau on Wednesday.
According to a SSM statement, the six patients comprise five boys and one girl aged between four and five. The statement noted that the patients started to show enterovirus symptoms last Friday, adding that all of them sought medical help. The statement pointed out that all of them are now in stable condition and the enterovirus did not cause any serious complications. The bureau has already started to collect samples for further testing and has completely disinfected the classroom.
The statement noted that enterovirus outbreaks usually occur during the summer, pointing out that the virus can lead to hand, foot and mouth disease, as well as herpangina (mouth blisters), and it can also cause serious complications such as inflammatory cardiomyopathy (inflammation and damage of the heart muscle) or aseptic meningitis (inflammation of the meninges).
According to the statement, children aged below five are more susceptible to hand, foot and mouth disease. The statement said that the incubation period is three to seven days, pointing out that the virus is usually spread through bodily waste, saliva or interaction with contaminated items. The statement stressed that children in nurseries and kindergarten often crowd together and play games, therefore, it is easier to have hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks in such locations.
The statement underlined that the symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease include fever, sore throat and blisters and rashes on the palms, feet and other areas. The statement said that in seven to 10 days the rashes and blisters will disappear naturally but there is a chance that the virus still lives in the body and comes out as body waste a few weeks later.
The bureau vowed to closely monitor the situation and stressed that most of the enterovirus patients can recover by themselves, and only a few would suffer serious complications. The bureau urged parents, pupils, schools, nurseries and day care centres to follow the following steps to prevent the spread of enterovirus: washing hands after taking care of a baby; covering one’s mouth and nose while sneezing; avoiding crowded areas; improving one’s immunity; and visiting the doctor as soon as enterovirus symptoms appear.
The statement said that residents should report any abnormal collective case to the Health Bureau by calling 2853 3525.
