Hand foot and mouth cases spark school closure in North

Back to back cases of Hand Foot and Mouth disease in Uttaradit, Pichit and Chiang Rai province have prompted Public Health officials to declare a state of high alert for an outbreak of the disease.

Health workers reveal that the disease is caused by the Enterovirus 71 and effects children under the age of 10, and is especially potent during the cold season. Many of the cases reported have been of children from the age of 3-6.

Authorities in the Northern region have convened to discuss the situation and Public Health official of Pichit province Doctor Prachak Wattanakul (ประจักษ์ วัฒนะกูล) has ordered the close of schools and day care centers in the rural areas of his province.

Other provinces have followed suit, closing off schools in areas where children have had reported cases of the illness.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 30 November 2007

My sons school closed on wednesday cos 2 kids had it here in Bkk.

22 nurseries in Uttaradit shut down following hand-foot-mouth disease outbreak

Uttardit - The public health office of this northern province ordered the closure of 22 nurseries following an outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease.

Doctor Khachornsak Imtem, chief public health officer of Lablae district, said the nurseries will be closed from Thursday to December 13.

He said a total of 17 cases had been detected in 10 private and public nurseries this week and seven more children were under watch to see if they have contracted the disease.

Doctor Khachorn Winaiphanit, deputy chief Uttradit health officer, said a total of 106 cases of the disease had been detected in the province this year.

Source: The Nation - 30 November 2007

I'm wondering if Mr. Squiggle and I have our children in the same school....?? My children's school has also closed because of this disease, but it's only one grade that's shut down for now, as the reported cases came from the same class. If any more are reported, I believe the whole school will shut for a time.

Anyone know the Thai word for this disease?

Cheers

TT

hand-foot-mouth disease.

What does it look like, I think my boss has got it!

no silly...that foot in mouth.

TT...our whole school shutdown, not just one grade......but its only a small school.

This condition seems to crop up every year.

However it does not seem to be any worse than the common cold,

so perhaps closing schools is an over-reaction.

The enteroviruses are second only to the "common cold" viruses, the rhinoviruses, as the most common viral infectious agents in humans.

The enteroviruses cause an estimated 10-15 million or more symptomatic infections a year in the United States.

All three types of polioviruses have been eliminated from the Western Hemisphere by the widespread use of vaccines.

Enteroviruses can be found in the respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) and stool of an infected person.

Other persons may become infected by direct contact with secretions from an infected person or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects,

such as a drinking glass or telephone. Parents, teachers, and child care center workers may also become infected by contamination of the

hands with stool from an infected infant or toddler during diaper changes.

Infections caused by enteroviruses are most likely to occur during the summer and fall. Most people who are infected with an enterovirus have

no disease at all. Infected persons who become ill usually develop either mild upper respiratory symptoms (a "cold"), a flu-like illness with fever

and muscle aches, or an illness with rash. Less commonly, some persons have aseptic or viral meningitis. Rarely, a person may develop an illness

that affects the heart (myocarditis) or the brain (encephalitis) or causes paralysis. Enterovirus infections are suspected to play a role in the development

of juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes). Newborns who become infected with an enterovirus may rarely develop an overwhelming infection

of many organs, including the liver and heart, and die from the infection.

Reference : http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11339

Last year one or two children died at a very prominent Bangkok school of this disease- it can be VERY serious- and the school had to plow the land under and fumigate before it could reopen. The closings are well-advised, but only if they are taking proper measures to fix the problem before re-opening.

"S"