PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Cambodia is
closing all kindergarten and primary schools two weeks before a regular
vacation to try to stop the spread of a virus that has killed hundreds
of young children around Asia.
Deputy Education Minister Mak Van said more than 2,700
kindergartens and 7,000 primary schools closed Wednesday to try to cope
with the menacing form of hand, foot and mouth disease known as
enterovirus 71 strain, or EV-71.
The victims sometimes suffer high fever, brain swelling, paralysis
and respiratory shutdown, though they may have been infected by people
with few or no symptoms. The recent deaths of almost 60 Cambodian
children raised the alarm over the disease.
Vietnam and China have
also had outbreaks. And in neighboring Thailand, three schools in
Bangkok closed Wednesday over new cases in students.
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