China struggling to come to grips with enterovirus 71

As health authorities in China struggle to come to grips with an outbreak of the intestinal virus EV71 or Enterovirus 71, the Ministry of Health is urging local health officials to step up public health education.

With the death toll now at 28 and thousands more affected, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has warned that the EV71 virus will be the biggest challenge and threat to public health this summer.

Authorities expect the infection figures to soar even higher and the CMP says it will update its website on daily basis on the outbreak - the highest number of EV71 cases recorded in the last 10 years was 35 in 2004.

Where cases occur in schools and child-care centers, these will be closed for a two week period and mandatory reporting of cases is now required.

Parents are being urged to seek prompt medical attention for their children if they develop high fever, persistent vomiting and muscle spasms.

Despite the surge in the numbers of infections, the Health Ministry and the World Health Organisation insist there is no cause for alarm and say that the disease will not impact on the Beijing Olympics.

Such statements do little however to calm the spreading alarm as many people are distrustful of the authorities which have already come in for some harsh criticism of it's handling of this outbreak in the initial stages.

The virus first emerged in large numbers in eastern China in early March, but was not made public until last week, prompting many in the media to accuse officials of a cover-up.

EV71 or hand, foot and mouth disease is spread through direct contact with the mucus, saliva or faeces of an infected person, the number of infections has reportedly risen to 16,778 across the country.

While it is common and as a rule benign, it can lead to serious complications in young children.

Dr. Hans Troedsson, the WHO's representative in China says this is not a new virus and there is no indication that it has changed and people should expect to see many more cases.

Beijing has also now established a high-level task force headed by the Health Minister to coordinate nationwide control efforts.