Benguet boy tests positive for EV-71; strain not deadly, DOH-CAR assures

BAGUO CITY, Aug. 4 (PIA)-- The Department of Health – Cordillera (DOH-CAR) said a five year old boy from Tublay in Benguet province tested positive for Enterovirus-71 (EC-71). The agency, however, assured the public that the virus is unlike the deadly type that killed over 50 children in Cambodia recently.

“Hindi ito yung nakamamatay katulad ng mga kaso sa Cambodia (This is not the fatal strain like what they had in Cambodia),” she said.

This is the second case of EC-71 reported in the country, said Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, Local Health Support Division chief of DOH-CAR.

Pangilinan said the parents of the boy brought him at the Benguet General Hospital for a check-up due to rashes in the hands and mouth with cough and fever.

The boy is now recuperating at home.

“What is good is that we added EV-71 in the surveillance system of the DOH and the hospitals region wide as a notifiable diseases. Benguet General Hospital was able to pick it up based on the case definition of the EV-71 thru its symptoms,” said Pangilinan.

EV-71 which is associated with the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease causes fever, diarrhea and rashes in the hands, foot and mouth and is sometimes associated with severe central neurological disease.

Because the child showed symptoms of EV-71, the BeGH took a sample thru pharyngeal swab and was later sent by the DOH to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and last week the results came back showing that he was positive of the strain of EV-71.

Pangilinan said that after testing positive for EV-71, the DOH conducted contact tracing at the residence and school of the victim particularly his family members and his classmates but test results turned out to be negative from EV-71.

Earlier in July, a one year old boy from Davao City tested positive for EV-71 making him the first victim of the EV-71 virus in the country. It was mild case of the disease.

Meanwhile, the DOH is strongly urging the public to always maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness to avoid diseases such as the EV-71. People should strictly observe personal and environmental hygiene and staying vigilant would be the best way against the virus. (JDP/RC- PIA CAR)