Common Childhood Illness claims 52 Lives in Cambodia

A virus caused disease that emerges out of common childhood illness has believed to have claimed at least 52 lives in Cambodia. The mysterious disease called EV- 71 causes strains of hand, foot and mouth.

As per the Health Officials, around 59 cases since April were found to be related to EV-71, including 52 deaths. WHO and Cambodian Health Ministry have also endorsed the report.

EV-71 is a virus which can cause paralysis, brain swelling and death. In case of the 52 deaths, the children were younger than 3 who experienced fever, respiratory problems that finally led to neurological symptoms and then death.

However, Epidemiologists are still trying to find whether the actual cause of death of those children is EV -71 or not. They are quizzing parents to get complete detail about the symptom as it might be possible that some details might have been omitted or missing from medical charts.

Also specimens were not taken from most of the children before they died, said Dr. Nima Asgari, who is leading the WHO investigation. Out of the 24 samples, 15 got confirmed to be positive for EV-71 – she also said.