Hand, foot and mouth disease strikes Hanoi
(VOV) - A health official from the Hanoi Health Department says a surging outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease in ten districts in Hanoi has infected 36 people so far this year.
According to the official, there have been five separate outbreaks reported and there is an especially high risk of a widespread outbreak in Bac Tu Liem district with six infected cases recently reported.
There is no vaccine to prevent the disease, the official said.
Vietnam recorded 80,685 cases of hand-foot and mouth disease in 2014 including eight deaths while Hanoi reported 1,170 infected cases in 26 out of 30 districts citywide.
The disease is a contagious viral illness that commonly affects infants and young children. Symptoms usually begin with a fever, sore throat, painful sores in the mouth. Complications include viral meningitis, myocarditis, and acute pneumonia, which can be fatal.
To reduce the risk of catching the virus, both children and adults should wash their hands often with soap and water many times throughout the day, disinfect touched surfaces such as toys and doorknobs and timely isolate infected patients.