Severe hand-foot-mouth infections appear in Beijing kindergartens

The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a notification March 8 stating that hand-foot-mouth infections had appeared in several Beijing kindergartens, some of which are severe cases.

Reporters learned that hand-foot-mouth disease is a kind of infectious disease caused by enteroviruses and most cases involve young children. It is characterized by fever and a typical rash most frequently seen on the hands, feet and the inside of the mouth. In China, it has been listed as a class C Infectious Disease. The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated that kindergartens are the focal point for this kind of disease, and the peak period for infection in Beijing is in May, June and July.

According to the epidemic information for 2009 issued by the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau, a total of 22,481 hand-foot-mouth disease cases including 4 fatal cases had been reported in Beijing by October 2009.

By People's Daily Online