Hong Kong Center for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health Thursday confirmed a case of Enterovirus-71 (EV-71) infection involving a three-year- old boy and urged the public to be vigilant against the disease. EV-71 is a viral infection usually found among children. It is also one of the causative agents for hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).

The child arrived in HK on April 17. He developed fever, cough, vomiting and vesicular rashes over palms, soles and mouth on April 19 and was admitted to hospital on April 21. He was discharged and returned to the Chinese mainland, CHP said.

Laboratory result of his stool specimen confirmed EV71 infection. CHP's investigation is on-going.

This is the seventh case of EV-71 infection reported to CHP in 2008. There were 35, 8, 16 and 12 cases in the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively.

A CHP spokesman said that May to August is the usual peak season for HFMD and EV71. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges and people should be vigilant against the disease.

(Xinhua News Agency April 25, 2008)