Young Thai girl killed by hand, foot and mouth virus

Published on 25/07/2012 00:00

Thailand has confirmed its first fatality this year from a virus that has killed hundreds of children across Asia.

The two-year-old girl, who died at a Bangkok hospital last week had a form of hand, foot and mouth disease known as ­enterovirus 71 strain, or EV-71.

The disease is common among children aged two to five and is usually mild.

However, the severe form of the illness caused more than 400 deaths in the first half of this year in China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Disease Control Department’s senior adviser, Doctor Prasert Thongcharoen, yesterday said that laboratory tests showed the girl was more vulnerable because she also had asthma.

The country’s Public Health Ministry said about 16,000 children in Thailand had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease so far this year.