Vietnam has increased measures to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease after the country recorded about 9,000 cases and three fatalities in what could turn into an outbreak of the toddler virus, Xinhua quoted a Vietnam News report.
Hand, foot and mouth disease occurs mainly among infants and children. The disease causes fever and rashes with blisters on the hands, feet and painful sores in the mouth.
Severe cases are most linked to enterovirus 71 or EV71 which can cause viral meningitis or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis, according to the Ministry of Health.
The ministry required local authorities to proactively coordinate with the health sector to take the initiative in hand-foot-mouth disease prevention and control, minimise the number of cases and deaths, and prevent the disease from spreading.
Local governments were asked to closely monitor the disease developments, detect and promptly handle outbreaks, said the health ministry.
Prevention measures also include raising public awareness about the need of frequent hand washing and disinfecting contaminated areas.
Source : The Star
