Virologists:Cambodian child died from HFMD in Thai East

BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - Expert virologists confirmed on Friday that a Cambodian child had died from the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Thailand's eastern Rayong Province. Professor Emeritus Dr. Pra-sert Thong-cha-roen told journalist, after a meeting of the expert virologists in Bangkok, that the Cambodian child, who recently died in Rayong, was a victim of the HFMD, and that the child was believed to contract the disease in Thailand, where he had lived for a long time. Professor Emeritus Dr. Prasert acknowledged that Thai health officials are implementing measures to contain the HFMD in Rayong, and that the HFMD in Cambodia is the subgenotype C4 of the enterovirus 71 and the epidemic has been declining in the neighbouring country. At the meeting, the expert virologists also confirmed that a 16-year-old male patient in Thailand's eastern Sa Kaeo Province had contracted Japanese encephalitis (JE), noting that the JE is an endemic resulting from the contraction of virus, tuberculosis and bacteria. The Thai experts indicated that there are JE patients and dead patients every year, and that from January 1-July 22, 2012, 334 people were reported with the JE in Thailand and 12 of them had died. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters that she has ordered concerned officials to swiftly contain the HFMD, treat seriously ill patients and take care of their family members to stop transmission, denying, however, that her government was concealing about the HFMD but the administration was conducting double-check information before dissemination to prevent public panic. (TNA)