Hanoi (dpa) - Hand, foot and mouth disease infected nearly 62,000
people in Vietnam in September, up 55 per cent from August, and has
killed 114 since the beginning of the year, authorities said Tuesday.
The spread of the disease showed no signs of slowing, and it has
been found in 61 of the country's 63 provinces, the Health Ministry's
Preventive Medicine Department said.
The Department warned the disease was likely to cause more
casualties in the coming months although it insisted the spread was
under control.
September to December is the peak infection time, and the jump in
September was seen as the new school year brought together children,
who are more susceptible to the disease.
The ministry urged local health departments to raise public
awareness of the disease and ensure hygienic conditions.
The virus is transmitted through saliva, blister fluid and faeces,
but it is rare among adults, whose immune systems are generally
strong enough to fight it off.
The disease is life-threatening in a small number of cases, owing
to complications such as lung haemorrhages and meningitis.
Southern Vietnam has been hardest hit. The region accounts for 79
per cent of infections and 91 per cent of the deaths, the department
said.
Copyright 2011 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH