Severe paediatric EV infection probed

July 20, 2012

The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a case of severe paediatric enterovirus infection involving a one-month-old boy.
 
The boy lives in Shatin. He fell ill on July 18 and was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital the same day. He was then transferred to the hospital's Paediatric Intensive Care Unit the following day.
 
The boy was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis due to enterovirus infection and tested positive for EV. His condition is stable. He has no travel history.
 
The boy's 30-year-old father, 18-month-old brother and 24-year-old aunt also developed symptoms of hand-foot-mouth disease from the end of June to early July but required no hospitalisation. They have recovered. 
 
The centre said as EV infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, it urges parents to keep children with the infection to keep them at home to avoid contact with other children until they have recovered.