The Health Bureau (SSM) said in a statement yesterday that 21 children from four nurseries came down with enterovirus infection between last Saturday and Monday.
According to the statement, the first case was at the Macau Women’s Association Day Care Centre in Rua do Campo, involving seven 2-year-old children, five boys and two girls.
The statement said that the second case occurred at the nursery of the Santa Maria Mazzarello School in Rua da Praia do Manduco, involving five boys and two girls aged one to two.
According to the statement, the third case was at Crèche Fai Chi Kei in Rua de Fai Chi Kei, involving three 2-year-old children, two boys and a girl. The statement noted that the fourth case occurred at the Crèche Caritas in Rua Marginal do Canal das Hortas, adding that four 1-year-old children, three boys and one girl, were involved.
The statement underlined that all the 21 patients have seen a doctor, adding that a child from the Crèche Fai Chi Kei was hospitalised due to constant high fever and convulsions. The statement said that the child has already recovered and has been discharged from hospital. The statement also said that the other cases were not serious, and there was no case of serious complications. The bureau said that it has 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.
Image courtesy of MDPI
