Cleanliness,vigilance against EV-71

By Redjie Melvic M. Cawis

Saturday 21st of July 2012

BAGUIO CITY, July 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) – Cordillera is strongly urging the public to always maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness especially with the alert on the deadly Enterovirus-71 (EV-71), the mysterious illness that killed more than 50 children in Cambodia.

Dr. Nick Gordo of DOH said that strictly observing personal and environmental hygiene and staying vigilant would be the best way against the virus.

He said that they cautioning everyone particularly parents with regards to the EV-71 virus which is associated with the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

Gordo said that EV-71 causes diarrhea, rashes, and hand, foot and mouth disease and is sometimes associated with severe central neurological disease. The virus was earlier tagged as a "mystery disease" in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, on Friday afternoon, a report from the DOH confirmed a one-year-old boy from Davao City has been found positive for the EV-71.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the screening and confirmatory tests done at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) reveal that of the eight suspected HFMD patients, one was tested positive of the virus similar to that in Cambodia.

Ona clarified that the boy has no history of travel outside the country. He said that on July 6, the boy became feverish and had rashes on his hands, soles of his feet, mouth, and buttocks. He 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 signs of the disease, they are still being closely monitored for possible manifestation of symptoms such as high fever, chest and muscle pain, sore throat and headaches. (JDP/RC-PIA)