Cleanliness, vigilance urged vs EV-71

Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Source: Sunstar

THE Department of Health (DOH)–Cordillera urges public to always maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness, especially with the alert on the deadly Enterovirus-71 (EV-71), the “mysterious illness” which killed more than 50 children in Cambodia.

DOH’s Dr. Nick Gordo said strictly observing personal and environmental hygiene and staying vigilant are the best ways to prevent the virus.
 
Gordo added EV-71 causes diarrhea, rashes and hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and is sometimes associated with severe central neurological disease.
 
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the screening and confirmatory tests done at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) revealed that of the eight suspected HFMD patients, one was tested positive of the virus similar to that in Cambodia.

Ona said on July 6, the boy has no history of travel outside the country and had developed fever and rashes on his hands, soles of feet, mouth and buttocks. The boy was brought for consultation at a local health facility but was subsequently sent home and has since recovered very well.

Although the victim's family members have no sickness, they are still being closely monitored for possible manifestation of symptoms such as high fever, chest and muscle pain, sore throat and headaches. (Redjie Cawis)