2 kids with enterovirus being tested for deadly EV-71 strain

(Updated 9:31 p.m., July 17, 2012) Two Filipino children have tested positive for an enterovirus, after the government stepped up its surveillance for the deadly Enterovirus 71 which has killed at least 56 children in Cambodia. But the Department of Health has yet to confirm if the Filipino kids contracted the more virulent strain of enterovirus, according to the Philippine News Agency, quoting DOH epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag.

 

Enterovirus 71 (EV-71) is an often fatal strain of hand, foot, and mouth disease, or HFMD, which so far has not been confirmed to have arrived in the Philippines.   

"The #DOH is still awaiting lab results of two suspect #HFMD cases reported recently #EV71 not found yet from these cases," Tayag said on his Twitter account Tuesday. 

 

The enterovirus was found in two out of seven children's specimens which were tested at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City, the PNA reported on Monday.  The institute will carry out one more test to determine if the children are infected with the virulent version of EV-17, said Tayag in an interview on GMA News TV program "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho". He noted that they should have a result in 48 hours. Also, Tayag could not reveal where the children live until after the test is completed.

 

Tayag said the enterovirus occurs naturally in the country, but in a mild, non-fatal form, known as a self-limiting illness.

 

"This proves that we really have HFMD in the country, [but] so far these children are alive or not in critical condition," Tayag said in the report.  

 

Notifiable disease

 

Last July 10, the DOH required doctors and health care providers to report incidents of Enterovirus 71 which is now listed as a "notifiable disease."

 

“This is necessary to make sure that the Philippines is free from the highly fatal severe form of EV-71 infections that have claimed the lives of [at least 52] children in Cambodia since April this year,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said in a previous report. 

 

According to the DOH, EV-71 infections occur in the Philippines, but they are irregularly reported and fatal infections are "still very rare in the Philippines."

 

The DOH said EV-71 causes diseases of varying intensity, including the often mild hand, foot and mouth disease.

 

However, it can also cause acute respiratory disease, acute flaccid paralysis (polio-like) and the deadly brainstem encephalitis.

 

"The Cambodian deaths were compatible with fatal diseases (encephalitis) associated with EV-71 rather than the milder HFM disease as earlier reported," the DOH said in a July 11 press release. 

 

Recommendations

 

The DOH explained that HFMD is a self-limiting illness whose symptoms include fever with skin lesions or rashes. 

 

The DOH also said that HFMD is different from foot and mouth disease in animals. "HFMD is an illness affecting mostly children and commonly spreads after direct contact with secretions (such as saliva) coming from patients. Adults seem protected against the disease possibly because of early infection in childhood. Hand washing and strict personal hygiene limits its spread," the DOH said on its website. 

 

As there are no known effective drugs or vaccines for EV-71, the DOH urged parents and day-care personnel to clean and disinfect toys and teaching tools. 

 

Tayag earlier recommended frequent hand washing to avoid getting sick. 

 

Early this month, Philippine authorities went on alert against what was then a mystery disease, amid reports of children in Cambodia dying from it. 

 

The DOH did not recommend a travel advisory for Cambodia, however airports are to screen inbound travelers. — DVM/HS, GMA News