Product Development – Enterovirus 71 (EV71)/ About EV71 EV71 is a major causative virus of epidemic Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), a common illness amongst infants and children. It is spread from person to person by direct contact with the nasal discharge, saliva, faeces and fluid from the rash of an infected person and indirectly by contaminated articles. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness and the incubation period is 3 to 7 days. HFMD is characterised by fever, sores in the mouth and a rash with blisters. In a small proportion of cases, HFMD results in severe neurological sequelae and even death. There is no specific treatment for the infection, other than symptomatic relief of symptoms. |
Outbreaks of EV71 have been reported around the world since 1969. However, during the late 1990s, there has been a significant increase in EV71 epidemic activity throughout the Asia Pacific region. In 1998, a large outbreak was reported in Taiwan, resulting in 405 severe cases in children and 78 deaths, with recurrences in 2000 and 2001. Outbreaks were also reported in Malaysia with 30 deaths in 1997, Singapore, Korea and Australia. HFMD is endemic in Singapore and in October 2000 it became legally notifiable. Useful links: Singapore's Health Promotion Board - http://www.hpb.gov.sg/hpb/ Singapore's Ministry of Health - http://www.moh.gov.sg/corp/about/ Center for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/ enterovirus/hfhf.htm
|
