The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that 13 kids from three different pre-schools were reported as having caught the enterovirus.
According to the statement, one of the cases happened at Macau Chong Tak School’s preschool, in Rua dos Pescadores, where seven pupils— three boys and four girls, aged between four and five –caught the enterovirus. The second case, the statement noted, involved three 3-year-old children, two boys and a girl. The statement added that they are all from Crèche Caritas in Rua Marginal do Canal das Hortas. The third case, according to the statement, was in Crèche Fai Chi Kei, in Travessa de Fai Chi Kei, involving three 2-year-old children, a boy and two girls.
The statement pointed out that all children started to show enterovirus symptoms last Friday and Saturday, and they have all seen a doctor. The statement said that all patients are now in a stable condition and none of them has serious complications. The bureau has already collected samples for further testing and has disinfected the classrooms.
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 the virus 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 enterovirus patients recover by themselves, and only a few suffer serious complications. The bureau urged parents, pupils, and school staff 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 seeing a doctor as soon as enterovirus symptoms appear.
The bureau also urged the education sector to comply with the following steps to prevent the spread of the enterovirus: ensuring there is enough fresh air in the classroom; using 1:100 parts bleach to clean desks, toys and walls (up to a height of one metre); stop attending classes when feeling unwell; and alert the bureau when any abnormal collective cases are found by calling 2853 3525.
Enterovirus warning poster courtesy of Grant County Health District
