PHILIPPINES – The Department of Health (DoH) announced
mandatory notification of the virus to health authorities. Health Secretary Enrique Ona ordered all
hospitals and health providers to report to the DOH individual cases, or even
outbreaks, of all EV-71 infections.
Ona said, “Mandatory notification
will improve monitoring of EV-71 infections and ensure that necessary measures
are in place to guarantee that the Philippines is free from the highly fatal,
severe form of EV-71 infections.”
In addition, Secretary Ona
explained, concurring with the World Health Organization (WHO), that the
Cambodian EV-71 was of the encephalitis type and not hand-foot-and-mouth
disease (HFMD) type as previously reported.
Because EV-71 can be transmitted
via the feces, health officials have advised parents on proper disposal of
diapers and other human waste and the importance of handwashing.
In addition, places that care for
infants and young children are advised on appropriate cleaning and disinfection
of toys and other objects children may be exposed to.
He also made it clear that there
were other diseases that mimic symptoms of EV-71 infection, such as dengue,
which made it all the more important to seek medical help.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
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