Enterovirus 71 infection: a new threat to global public health?

摘要

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the same category as poliovirus, has made another comeback in many parts of Asia. The reported frequency of EV71 infections are rising on a weekly basis: in Hong Kong, the number of cases reached 79 by late August, the highest in a decade. In some cases, EV71 infections cause hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), a common, contagious disease that usually affects children and that is characterised by flu-like symptoms; rash on hands, feet, and buttocks; mouth ulcers; poor appetite; and vomiting and diarrhoea. However, HFMD can be life threatening, particularly if the virus causes inflammation of the brain stem, which can progress to heart failure and pulmonary oedema.