REGIONAL> Society
Yellow alert issued for HFMD
By Zhao Ruixue and Li Anna (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-31 17:59

A yellow alert for hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) has been issued in Heze, Shandong province, a source from the province’s Health Department said.

As of March 28, Heze city had reported 2,082 HFMD cases, among which five children fell victim to the outbreak.

A work team has been set-up by the Heze government to carry out complete control and prevention work.

“Shandong will fight against HFMD with all-out efforts and deploy the best experts to participate in the cure work,” Bao Wenhui, director of Shandong provincial health department, said.

As of today, 81 experts had been sent to Heze to provide treatment and employ techniques to control and prevent the disease.

Expert teams composed of 13 medical organizations including Shandong Provincial Hospital and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University organized to assist in fighting against HFMD in Heze.

More than 100 hygiene personnel have been called in by Shandong Health Department and Heze Health Bureau to help in the emergency.

Wang Suilian, vice governor of Shandong Province, inspected the control and prevention work of HFMD in Heze, maintaining that the city is required to be well prepared for a more serious outbreak of the disease with the prompt practice of an emergency plan, in hope of subduing the epidemic.

Meanwhile, 14 experts from Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention and 3 experts from Shandong Health Inspection and Supervision Office were assigned by Shandong Health Department to direct the prevention and inspection in Heze.

Equipment including six breath machines, four heart monitors and two movable X ray machines have been sent to Heze to help with a possible cure and prevention of the epidemic.

On March 29 , Heze recorded 440 HFMD cases.

China Daily Shangdong Bureau