China has recently been hit with an outbreak of the dangerous enterovirus-71, a form of hand, foot, and mouth disease, infecting over three thousand children and killing 24 at last count.
Officials have been ordered to crack down on outbreaks, although several have been criticized for not having taken action to report the outbreak to the public quickly enough. This is especially a concern after the disastrous SARS cover-up in 2003; this time, the Ministry of Health has been dispatched to aggressively and proactively seek out those infected instead of merely waiting for them to enter hospitalization.
This is doubtless bound to draw unwanted attention to several topics that China may not particularly want highlighted, especially with the Summer 2008 Olympic Games looming near. Among these are bound to be it's tight control over public access to necessary information, an appallingly sub-optimal public-health system, and the organization of a proper response team, among other considerations.
Officials note that more cases may soon arise, as the disease's peak season hits in June and July; however, one hopes that this will lead to improved conditions and response in the present and the future, as local officials purport to be checking up on and working to improve overall sanitation and ensure food/water safety conditions to limit the spread of the disease.
View the original article here:
China combats deadly child virus
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24441417
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