Cambodia’s 60 child deaths traced to virus

A VIRUS that causes hand, foot and mouth disease may have been responsible for some of the mysterious deaths of dozens of children in Cambodia since April, the health ministry has said in a joint statement with the World Health Organisation.

Fifty-nine cases had been identified involving children aged three months to 11 years, with the majority younger than three. In all, 52 had died.

“Based on the latest laboratory results, a significant proportion of samples tested positive for enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand, foot and mouth disease. EV-71 has been known to cause severe complications among some patients,” the WHO said.

It said other pathogens were found, including dengue and streptococcus suis, which is a pig pathogen that can be transmitted to humans.

“Further investigation is ongoing and this includes the matching of the laboratory and epidemiological information. We hope to be able to conclude our investigation in the coming days,” Cambodian health minister Mam Bun Heng said.

The WHO said on 3 July it was helping Cambodia investigate the deaths of at least 60 children under seven years of age, most of whom had died within 24 hours of being admitted to hospital in Phnom Penh or Siem Reap.

They had high fevers and signs of encephalitic or respiratory symptoms, or both, it said.