Officials make break in baffling disease killing Cambodian
Officials make break in baffling disease killing Cambodian children
Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CNN) -- Health officials say they have made
an important discovery in the mystery surrounding the deaths of 64 children in Cambodia.
The Institut Pasteur in Cambodia tested samples taken from 24 patients and found
15 had tested positive for Enterovirus Type 71 -- a common cause of hand, foot and mouth disease that can also cause severe neurologic complications, mainly in children.
"These results now give a good explanation to this outbreak," Dr. Philippe Buchy, head of the institute's virology unit, said in an e-mail. "We will get more results hopefully by next Tuesday or Wednesday."
But an official with the World Health Organization cautioned that the outbreak has not been fully solved, and more analysis is needed.
Outbreaks "occur periodically in the Asia-Pacific region," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Brunei had its first major outbreak in 2006. China had an outbreak in 2008.
Though the detection of EV71 in Cambodia is significant, there may be other factors, said Dr. Beat Richner of Kantha Bopha hospitals.
Over the past three months,
66 children -- between 2 and 3 years old -- were admitted to Kantha Bopha facilities. All but two died mysteriously after suffering severe neurological and respiratory complications, Richner said.
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http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/08/world/asia/cambodia-children-disease/index.html?hpt=hp_t2This is some nasty stuff! My twin great nieces contracted this last winter. One of them nearly died from it while the other one was ill but not as ill as her fraternal twin. Twin B was hospitalized for 5 days - 2 of them in ICU. It was touch and go there for about 48 hours.
Prayers winging to the families of these poor children.