People are being advised of an ongoing outbreak in China of an intestinal virus called enterovirus 71, or EV71.
This virus causes a variant of hand, foot, and mouth disease. There are no specific precautions for this other than the general hygiene recommendations for living in China.
Over 3300 cases have been reported in Anhui Province. All of the deaths were children less than 6 years old and most were under 2 years of age. A few additional cases have been confirmed in Zhejiang Province. Hubei Province and Hong Kong have also reported a few cases.
The symptoms of EV 71 are similar but more severe than the common hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Typically, it starts with a generalized illness, poor appetite, and sore throat, followed by a fever, rashes on the hands, feet, and buttocks along with mouth ulcers. HFMD is often confused with foot-and-mouth disease of cattle, sheep, and swine. Although the names are similar, the two diseases are not related at all and are caused by different viruses.
Infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. HFMD is not transmitted to or from pets or other animals.
For more information here are some useful links
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2008_05_01/ en/index.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacifi c/7383796.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacifi c/7381741.stm
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factshe ets/fs174/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/en terovirus/hfhf.htm
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