Cambodian boy did die of HFMD virus

Infection rates on rise, more schools shuttered 

Published: 28/07/2012

Bangkok Post

News Health authorities have confirmed that a young Cambodian boy who died in Rayong on Wednesday did have hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD).

A health worker sprays disinfectant in a classroom at Srinakharinwirot University Prasarnmit’s Demonstration School, which is closed until Monday in order to stop the spread of hand, foot and mouth disease. SOMCHAI POOMLARD

The two-and-a-half-year-old's death was the second HFMD fatality in Thailand this year, they said.

Disease Control Department adviser emeritus Dr Prasert Thongcharoen said officials from the Epidemiology Bureau who went to investigate the death confirmed the boy had clearly developed HFMD symptoms and that it was not necessary to bring the matter before Public Health Ministry virologists.

Epidemiology Bureau chief Pasakorn Akarasewi said the boy developed a fever and blisters on his palms and feet prior to being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties on Wednesday.

It was clear the boy was ill with HFMD but what strain it was will not be known until the lab test results are released, Dr Pasakorn said, adding that the test results are expected today.

The young boy died while undergoing emergency treatment, two hours after being admitted to Klaeng Hospital.

Dr Pasakorn said the bureau's investigation team reported that the boy had lived in Klaeng district for more than a year and since it has been found that HFMD has been circulating in Klaeng since February, it is likely he contracted the disease locally.

It also found that one of three children known to be playmates of the dead boy is also sick with HFMD-type symptoms, the doctor said.

Rayong yesterday also conducted what officials called a "big cleaning day" campaign throughout the province to stress the importance of maintaining personal hygiene to prevent further spread of the virus.

The HFMD infection rate in Rayong appears to have doubled, with 384 confirmed cases reported, or around 20 cases a day, up from previous estimates of around 10 cases a day.

In neighbouring Chanthaburi, 96 confirmed HFMD cases have been reported this month. These include two young Cambodian and two Lao patients.

Dr Charat Wasuthada, the provincial chief health officer, said on average about five HFMD infections were now being reported each day.

In Tak province in the North, reports of new cases of HFMD among students prompted two private schools to temporarily suspend classes to halt the spread of the virus.

Anubal Ratuthit School, which has about 3,000 students, was shut down temporarily after more than 50 of its students were confirmed to have contracted HFMD.

The other school ordered closed was Phattharawit Witthaya School, where a Prathom 2 (Grade 2) student has been confirmed to have HFMD.

In Uttaradit, two more cases of HFMD were reported yesterday, bringing the total number of infections to 90.

A local disease-control team was sent out to disinfect several child-care centres where HFMD cases were reported, said Dr Phureewat Chokkerd, the provincial chief health officer.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she has ordered all provinces to take swift action to contain the spread of the virus.

The Public Health Ministry was closely monitoring the situation and helping local health authorities deal more effectively with the spread of HFMD, she said.

The premier insisted the government had not tried to cover up any reported HFMD cases but admitted announcements were slow because each case had to be confirmed first.