New Enterovirus Alert from China

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Enterovirus-71 has caused 23 fatalities in China so far. The affected are primarily young children in this outbreak, the virus is contagious but is easily controlled by improved hygiene and frequent hand washing as stated by the World Health Org.
The Chinese officials have also reported as many as 4,000 people have been sickened by the disease this year.

The normal outbreaks occur in June and July, so there are concerns about this being not only an early start, but whether of not this might be an especially large outbreak this time.
The outbreaks of the virus are a constant in Asia, during the summer months.

There have been reported outbreaks of the disease in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam also, but there aren't any firm numbers for victims in those countries.
The incidence of fatal cases will be lessened in both Taiwan and Hong Kong due to the availability of greater hygiene resources in those two countries.

In China, the province where the outbreak began was Fuyang, and in that province nearly all of the kindergarten schools have been closed until mid May.

"There are noticeably very few children or infants on the street," said a 24-year-old student from Fuyang who asked not to be quoted by name. "Even some adults are afraid to step out."

The Chinese newspapers are also making note of the disease in response to the need for transparency versus the prior cover ups. There are some individuals who still believe the Chinese government is not being completely honest about the numbers of fatalities though.

Death toll from a mass intestinal virus infection rose to 22 and 3,321 children had been sickened by the virus in Fuyang city in the eastern Anhui Province since early March.

There are at this time no plans by the Chinese government or the World Health Org. to recommend travel restrictions into or out of China.