Epidemic Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Caused by Human Enterovirus 71, Singapore
- Kwai Peng Chan
- Kee Tai Goh
- Chia Yin Chong
- Eng Swee Teo
- Gilbert Lau
- Ai Ee Ling
DOIAbstract
Singapore experienced a large epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in 2000. After reviewing HFMD notifications from doctors and child-care centers, we found that the incidence of HFMD rose in September and declined at the end of October. During this period, 3,790 cases were reported. We performed enteroviral cultures on 311 and 157 specimens from 175 HFMD patients and 107 non-HFMD patients, respectively; human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) was the most frequently isolated virus from both groups. Most of the HFMD patients were <4 years of age. Three HFMD and two non-HFMD patients died. Specimens from two HFMD and both non-HFMD patients were culture positive for HEV71; a third patient was possibly associated with the virus. Autopsies perf...
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