21 HFMD cases required hospitalisation last week
By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 April 2008 1851 hrs

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	Related News • HFMD cases hit record high of 1,466 last week, more centres to close • Health Ministry concerned about prevalence of HFMD's EV71 strain • Experts say parents, caregivers at risk of contracting HFMD

SINGAPORE : Twenty-one children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) were hospitalised last week ending April 26, mainly because of poor feeding.

A seven-year-old girl diagnosed with inflammation of the brain - the only serious complication in the HFMD outbreak so far - was discharged from KK Women's and Children's Hospital on April 23.

The Ministry of Health surveillance continues to show a high circulation of Enterovirus 71 (EV71), which has been known to cause infections to the brain, heart and lungs.

25 percent of the samples this year have tested positive for EV71. During the HFMD outbreak in 2000-2001, the EV71 strain killed seven children.

370 new cases of HFMD were reported on April 28 - the highest daily figure in the past week.

As of 3pm on Tuesday, there were 71 new cases, bringing the total number of reported HFMD cases this year to 9,467.

Currently, 11 childcare centres and preschools have been ordered to close temporarily to prevent the further spread of HFMD among the students. Another 32 have closed voluntarily. - CNA /ls