No Report Of EV-71 Contagion In Malaysia - Minister

BENTONG (Pahang, Malaysia), July 12 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry has confirmed that there is no enterovirus 71 strain (EV-71) contagion in the country. Its minister, Liow Tiong Lai said although there was a case related to EV-71 detected, the patient had since been isolated and placed under supervision. "There is no cause for alarm as the situation is under control and so far, there is no spread of EV-71 in the country," he told reporters after closing the Kids Invent! programme here, Thursday. EV-71 raised fears earlier this week when it was detected in some lab samples taken after 52 of 59 children in Cambodia died suddenly from a mystery illness. The disease is in the same family as polio, mainly affects children younger than five, and spreads easily through sneezing, coughing and contact with fluid from sores or infected faeces. The telltale symptoms include rash, mouth sores and blisters covering the hands and feet. Liow said the World Health Organisation was issuing daily reports on the epidemic in Cambodia and urged the public to maintain cleanliness and hygiene. He urged public and private kindergartens to monitor children's health and ensure that their environment was kept clean and hygienic. "All public and private clinics must notify the ministry promptly if any of their patients is suspected of being infected with the virus," he said. -- BERNAMA