Deputy Prime
Minister Enkhbold is heading an emergency committee to deal with the issue of
nearly 200 suspected cases throughout Mongolia, including the capital
Ulaanbaatar. Elementory schools have suspended their classes for Monday and
several public events have been canceled.
The first case was reported last
Thursday and since than the General Authority for Emergency Management (GAEM)
has seen a rapid increase.
Disease Characteristics by the Community
Health Administration
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is usually characterized
by tiny blisters on the inside of the mouth and the palms of the hands, fingers,
soles of the feet. It is commonly caused by coxsackievirus A16 (an enterovirus),
and less often by other types of viruses.Young children are primarily affected,
but it may be seen in adults. Most cases occur in the summer and early fall.
Outbreaks may occur among groups of children especially in child care centers or
nursery schools. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 5 days after exposure.
People
can spread the disease when they are shedding the virus in their feces. It is
also spread by the respiratory tract from mouth or respiratory secretions (such
as from saliva on hands or toys). The virus has also been found in the fluid
from the skin blisters. The infection is spread most easily during the acute
phase/stage of illness when people are feeling ill, but the virus can be spread
for several weeks after the onset of infection.
The rash appears as blisters
or ulcers in the mouth, on the inner cheeks, gums, sides of the tongue, and as
bumps or blisters on the hands, feet, and sometimes other parts of the skin. The
skin rash may last for 7 to 10 days.
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