Every year (an) enterovirus hits Taiwan.
Most years, the predominant strain is Coxsackie -A, not super dangerous, just makes you sick in a Hand Foot Mouth disease way.
Most years, there are a handful of cases of a more serious strain, resulting in a couple deaths.
1998 was a record breaker for infections and deaths associated with the more virulent strain.
2008 is shaping up to be the same. EV71 is on the rise in China as well. Most people believe that the numbers are under-reported.
Already 8 kids have died and there are several hundred cases all over the island. Taipei City has closed 113 kindies, daycares and 1-2 grade classes. Taipei County has closed an additional couple dozen. The government of Taiwan has closed all public play spaces for kids 5 years old and younger.
I'm not a scientist or a doctor but having lived in Asia for 10 years through several epidemics (enterovirus and SARS and avian flues), I've seen first hand how/why contagions spread; bad hygiene and under-reporting. Washing hands with soap in warm water is the exception, every time, including at restaurants, markets, schools and hospitals. And, even though it's illegal, it's culturally normative to cover-up cases of disease to save face, money, lessen anxiety.
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Ivo is going to spend the afternoon at Ryan's high school, in the teacher's office, watching videos, playing computer games, practicing writing his abc's and drawing pictures. Burl is coming with me to school. Burl is less of a sit-down and do busy work kinda guy, but, it is what it is. I am giving final tests in both classes. One class will have time after the test to compile all their essays in a bound volume. I think that I can keep Burl from being too miserable, distructive or distracting. I hope.
We haven't asked if this is ok - but we guess we aren't gonna be fired! There are 2 weeks left of school. I'm finished on the 27th. Ryan proctors tests next week, I think we can get away with only taking the kids with us 2 more times after today.
This throws a HUGE wrench into our packing plans. The boys have been going to school on Thurs afternoons, so I can get stuff done and we were gonna send them all day Friday to pack. But, of course, it would be a lot more disruptive if any of us required hospitalization.
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MOVERS COMING NEXT THURSDAY JULY 26TH!
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2 links: (forumosa links didn't link - but maybe it's fixed now)
- The most common cause of HFMD is infection with coxsackievirus A16 (CA16), a member of the enterovirus group of viruses. Usually, there are no complications of HFMD caused by CA16 infection, although viral meningitis may occur occasionally. A second, less common cause of HFMD is infection with EV71. In addition to HFMD, EV71 may also cause viral meningitis, encephalitis, or a poliomyelitis-like paralysis. EV71 meningitis or encephalitis may occasionally be fatal. HFMD is moderately contagious. The enteroviruses that cause HFMD are not spread by airborne transmission and are usually not spread by contaminated food or water. Rather, infection is spread from person to person by direct contact with nose and throat secretions (e.g., nasal mucus or saliva) or the stool of infected persons. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness. The usual period from infection to onset of symptoms is 3 to 7 days.
- ...EV71 not only attacks the child's respiratory system but can also
injure the child's cardiac and nervous systems.
In 1998, Taiwan recorded 405
serious EV71 cases, 78 of which were fatal. The number of serious cases has
since declined. In 2000, only a few cases were documented and there have been no
serious enterovirus outbreaks reported since 2005.
Enterovirus is the most
common cause of aseptic meningitis and can cause serious disease, especially in
infants and the immuno-compromised.
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