Shenzhen had reported 11,711 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) as of June 13 this year, a 192 percent increase over the same period last year, health officials said Friday (June 18).
Forty children were in serious condition and were being treated at Shenzhen Children's Hospital. Another three, all aged under 3, had died of the disease, Liu Dongyuan, director of the medical affairs management department of the city's health commission, said.
The city health authority did not give reasons for the sharp increase this year, but said it was similar to the situation in Guangdong Province. Shenzhen ranked third in Guangdong Province in the number of HFMD cases, followed by Guangzhou and Dongguan. The incidence rate in Shenzhen stood at 131.43 in every 100,000, ranking sixth in the province.
Around 94 percent of the cases were children aged under 5 and 60 percent were boys, said Liu.
Most of the children were from families of migrant workers. More than 53 percent were in Longgang District, followed by Bao' an and Luohu districts.
Several adults were also found to have been infected with the disease, but none was in serious condition, said Liu.
"They were all isolated cases. There were a few small outbreaks in some kindergartens, but the outbreaks are under control and parents should not be worried," said Liu.
Medical experts expected that there would be another peak in cases in July, so parents, kindergartens and schools should prepare prevention measures. Classes found to have two or more cases of HFMD within one week should be suspended for 10 days, Liu said.
(By Wang Yuanyuan)
