EV71 outbreak, cancellation of Midi Festival etc.
Joachim
May 01, 2008, 10:31 AM posted in General DiscussionAs <a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/29/content_8076120.htm">新华通讯社 reports</a> there is a fatal outbreak of enterovirus 71, or EV71, [never heard of it before] in China.
"Enterovirus 71 has altogether sickened 1,520 children in Fuyang, claiming 20 lives by the morning of April 29, ..."
As <a href="http://wiki.rockinchina.com/index.php?title=Midi_Music_Festival_2008" target="_blank"> Rock in China</a> writes, this is one of the reasons that the Midi Festival was cancelled or postponed.
The latter is regrettable - and brought this news to my attention.
The former is very sad! Poor kids and families!
wei1xiao4
May 02, 2008, 12:39 AMAccording to the International Herald Tribune 4/24/08, the Midi Festival was canceled for security reasons; "Other restrictions can seem random, like a decision on Wednesday that forced the cancellation of a popular music festival a week before its start. Organizers of the eight-year-old Midi Festival said officials told them they were concerned about security during the event, which was to include more than 80 bands, many of them from abroad. They hoped to reschedule it for after the Olympics." I haven't heard anything about these viruses although all the schools were closed for a week in HK because four children died of the flu, but that was about a month ago and everything seems to be OK now. Interesting.
auntie68
May 02, 2008, 02:15 AMHi wei1xiao4 and Joachim, the EV71 enterovirus is one of the 60 or so viral strains which can cause a "common" childhood disease known to non-medical people like me as: HFMD (Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease). I believe it is considered to be mild (generally), but it is highly contagious, and can lead to brain damage or even death. The only reason why I know this factoid is that here in Singapore we are experiencing an HFMD epidemic on a scale which is keeping it in the local news daily. About a week ago over 500 cases were diagnosed on a single day (vs maybe 1,500 cases in a "normal" year), several childcare centres and preschools have been closed, and the Ministry of Health is considering measures to help relieve parents who have exhausted their annual personal/ childcare leave because they've had to keep their children at home. Interestingly, I get the impression that the pre-schools and childcare centres which had retained the SARS-days hygiene routines are relatively free of HFMD. Being the loving Aunt of a Stunt Toddler (2+ years old), my perspective is that this is a "normal" or "mild" childhood disease which at this moment has been elevated to a public health concern because it is spreading so quickly. Hope this info helps!
excuter
May 01, 2008, 07:50 PMHi Joachim, Aric mentioned something about Midi Festival as well, over at http://www.theshanghaishow.com/ did you check out his shanghai diaries serie? Pretty intense...