A Health Bureau (SSM) statement said yesterday that 7 two-year-old boys from the Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations’ Crèche “O Lago” in Taipa came down with the enterovirus.
The statement noted that they all started to show enterovirus symptoms last Friday, and all went to see a doctor. The statement said that two of them were hospitalised due to a high fever and mouth blisters. The statement added that they have all been discharged and none of the seven children has any serious complications.
The statement stressed that the bureau has collected samples from their classroom and disinfected the area.
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.
Poster courtesy of US Department of Health & Human Services
