A total of 13 children from two preschools came down with the enterovirus on Sunday and Monday, a Health Bureau (SSM) statement said yesterday.
According to the statement, the first case was found at Saint Joseph International Nursery in Rua de Londres involving three 2-year-olds, two girls and a boy. The statement noted that the other 10 children are from the preschool of Pui Ching Middle School in Avenida de Horta e Costa, comprising six girls and four boys aged between three and four. The statement pointed out that they started to show enterovirus symptoms on Sunday and Monday, and all of them saw a doctor.
The statement underlined that one of the children from Pui Ching Middle School’s preschool experienced convulsions and had a high fever and needed to be hospitalised but has already been discharged. The statement said that the other patients are in stable condition and did not have any serious complications. The statement also said that the bureau has already collected samples for further testing and 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.
