Rejang link to HFM

Star: KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia has zeroed in on its longest river as the source of the outbreak of the hand, foot and mouth (HFM) disease in Sarawak.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said yesterday Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) microbiologist Prof Dr Jane Cardosa believed that the 563km Rejang river might have something to do with the outbreak.
“She wants to do more research on the river, its water quality and viral content,” said Dr Chua who had asked Prof Cardosa to put up a paper for continuing her research which required about RM1mil in funding.
He said the Sarawak government is willing to pay half the amount while his ministry would come up with the balance.
Speaking to reporters after opening the 11th joint Malaysia-Singapore nursing conference here, Dr Chua said Sarawak is now the collaborating centre for HFM disease research within Asean.
In the latest outbreak nearly two weeks ago, 3,200 HFM cases had been reported. There have been five deaths.
Dr Chua said about half the victims were infected with the Entrovirus 71 (EV71) strain, which was slightly different from the virus responsible for the first major HFM outbreak in Sarawak in 1997 that killed more than 30 children.
Prof Cardosa indicated three years ago that a “big outbreak” of the Human Enterovirus 71 (HEV71) was imminent.
In a message posted on the International Society for Infectious Diseases website (www.promedmail.org), she had said the outbreak would likely be due to a new strain of the virus.