Ulsan Institute of Health and Environment, "Outbreak of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Causing Viral Infection"

Increase in Enterovirus Detection in Infants and Young Children: Caution Advised

Recently, there has been an increase in the detection of enteroviruses, which cause diseases such as hand, foot, and mouth disease, especially among infants and young children, requiring caution.

The Ulsan City Health and Environment Research Institute announced that, together with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the detection rate has significantly increased based on a survey conducted through the "Enterovirus Surveillance Project" targeting suspected patients who visited five local medical institutions from January to the second week of May.

Out of a total of 39 cases investigated, 5 tested positive, marking a significant increase compared to no detections until May of last year.

Additionally, the 39 specimens suspected of enterovirus during this period represent about a fivefold increase compared to 8 cases during the same period last year.

Enterovirus infections are known to present clinical symptoms such as hand, foot, and mouth disease characterized by fever, oral blisters and ulcers, and vesicular rashes on the hands and feet, as well as aseptic meningitis and herpangina.

There are no commercially available vaccines or specific treatments in Korea, so strict personal hygiene is the best preventive measure.

A representative from the Health and Environment Research Institute expressed hope that “since this infectious disease occurs frequently among infants and young children during warmer seasons, special attention should be paid to following preventive measures and hygiene management in group settings such as daycare centers and kindergartens.”

Ulsan Institute of Health and Environment Research.

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