Common virus kills nearly 100 children in Vietnam

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_VIETNAM_CHILDHOOD_VIRUS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-09-10-03-09-08

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- The World Health Organization says an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has surged in Vietnam, killing 98 children and sickening more than 42,000 others this year.

It says three-quarters of the deaths have been in children three years old or younger.

This year's outbreak is a sharp increase over previous years. Since 2008, about 10,000 to 15,000 cases were reported per year, with about 20 to 30 children dying annually.

The WHO statement quoted Vietnam's health minister as warning that cases might increase in coming months when preschools and kindergartens resume.



***&this is a mild virus w/ no vaccine.

[phylny]

1. Our youngest daughter had this when she was five years old

No way was it life threatening, although she was very uncomfortable. So sad.

[Warpy]

2. The article said it was killing kids mostly 3 and younger

probably because there is no way to make those kids eat or drink anything when their mouths are all blistered and they're so uncomfortable. A developed country would use temporary feeding tubes but Vietnam isn't there yet.