BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The recent outbreak of
hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) will not affect the Beijing Olympic Games, health
ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said here on Wednesday.
China is confident that it can control the spread of
the disease with effective prevention methods, Mao said at a press conference
jointly held by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.
Two experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention do experiments at the virus lab of the Fuyang Disease Control Center in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, May 6, 2008. Medical experts sent by China's Ministry of Health set up a virus lab in Fuyang to do scientific research in enterovirus 71, or EV71.(Xinhua Photo/Chen Yehua) Photo Gallery>>>
He said other than Fuyang city in the eastern
province of Anhui, which reported the initial outbreak and the most fatal cases
of the disease, the rest of the country had not reported a rise in HFMD cases
compared with previous years.
The city has recorded 4,496 HFMD cases since March
20. Of these cases, 22 have been fatal, with 42 patients listed in critical
condition as of May 2.
"The disease in Fuyang has been brought under control
by improving prevention methods and medical treatment of infected children," Mao
told the news conference.
He said the health ministry has taken a series of
measures to prevent a large-scale spread of the disease.
"We have also included HFMD as a C class epidemic
that must be reported to the ministry, to strengthen the reporting of the
disease," Mao said.
According to Mao, two kindergartens in Beijing have
reported cases recently, and local health authorities have closed the two
schools already.
Noting that HFMD mostly occurs among children, Mao
stressed: "Beijing has not reported a remarkable rise of hand-foot-mouth disease
cases in comparison with previous years, nor a higher number of fatal cases."
He added: "Health departments at all levels including
those in Beijing will ensure the HFMD outbreak does not affect the Beijing
Olympics."
But Mao noted that China may experience another
outbreak of HFMD in June and July, according to expert analysis of the disease.
BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China will see a higher
incidence of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in June and July, said the Health
Ministry spokesman here on Wednesday.
There has been no unusual pattern in the HFMD outbreak so
far, said Mao Qun'an, the health ministry spokesman, at a press conference. Full Story
