New health crisis for China
Updated
While the death toll continues to rise from last week's earthquake in south-west China, another health crisis is escalating.
Hand, foot and mouth disease has killed dozens of children in China this year and infected tens of thousands
Presenter: Amanda Morgan
Speakers: Hans Troeddson, World Health Organisation.
MORGAN: In an Olympic year that was supposed to showcase China to the world, the country has instead been burdened with unrest, protests, natural disasters and a viral epidemic affecting tens of thousands of children.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness but this year's outbreak is the worst ever seen.
The outbreak first struck south-east China's Fuyang City causing a national health alert.
It's now spread to at least seven other provinces, as well as Beijing.
At least 43 children have died and more than 27-thousand have been infected.
TROEDSSON: One reason for the increase in cases is because the minsiter of health has made the disease a so-called notifiable disease. So health workers are obliged to report to the minister of health within 24 hours.
MORGAN: Hans Troeddson works for the World Health Organisation.
He says the disease is also having a toll across Asia.
Singapore has reported about 10-thousand cases. There are also outbreaks in Malaysia, Thailand and in southern Vietnam, as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Mongolia is also reporting hundreds of cases. But the World Health Organisation doubts the disease will spread further north to Russia.
A lack of knowledge about sanitation is being blamed for the outbreaks in Asia.
TROEDSSON; We know that densley populated areas are usually more easily affected. This virus not only spreads through fluids of the blisters and respiratory transmission but it's spread through water and faeces. So poor sanitary conditions will also increase the risk for transmission of the virus.
MORGAN: But in Beijing many schools and kindergartens are taking measures to minimise the risk of the disease spreading.
This kindergarten teacher says, "when children go to kindegarten they need to follow hygiene rules for the day, like gargling with salt water in the morning and washing their hands with soap. The disinfection of toys, books and bedding are all done under instruction.
Many young children sing this song as a reminder about the importance of hygiene.
"The teacher says we need to wash our hands often" this six-year-old girl says. "And only after we wash our hands can we play with toys and eat food."
The girl's grandfather says, "At home we wash their clothes, hands and feet everyday and every time they get dirty."
Many parents aren't concerned about the disease and trust that the Chinese Government will control the outbreak soon.
"The problem is not that serious," this woman says. "Though there are many cases the situation will be controlled. Since SARS, the Chinese Government has been capable of handling such emergencies."
Despite this, questions were raised about a possible cover-up of information by Chinese authorities. The disease was first detected in March, but not reported until April.
Comparisons were also made with the Chinese Government's attempts to conceal the SARS disease.
But the World Health Organisation says there's been no cover-up.
TROEDSSON: They even tested for SARS and also meningitis and septisemia and so on and they were all negative. So I think the delay was actually because initially it was difficult for them to diagnose a typice, severe case.
MORGAN: But the outbreak still has Chinese authorities worried. The disease is expected to reach its peak in June and July, shortly before the Olympic Games begin in August.
The potential impact on the Games is unknown, although the World Health Organisation insists there'll be no problems.
