[ Index ]
 

Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the identification of Echo 7 virus causing one of the four deaths of children in Malaysia. 25.10.200

The Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, HFM, epidemic in Singapore and then Malaysia causes anxiety. One of the four deaths in the Singapore outbreak was reported as due to Enterovirus 71, EV 71 whereas one of the four deaths in Malaysia was due to Echovirus 7, Echo 7. We still do not know the strain of virus in three other deaths in both countries respectively.

Yesterday, Universiti Hospital senior consultant virologist Professor Dr Lam Sai Kit said that the Echo 7 virus found in one death was isolated by UH consultant virologist Associate Professor Dr Chua Kaw Bing and clinical virologist Dr Peter Mcminn at Australia's Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. Dr Chua went to Australia. He also discovered the Nipah virus causing the encephalitis epidemic last year.

It is good to know that at least one case was due to Echo 7. However, there are over 60 Enteroviruses that include over 30 Echoviruses. Echoviruses affect hand, foot, mouth, muscles and brain of children mainly. Rarely, children die from infection of brain, meningoencephalitis.

It was EV 71 that killed 31 children in Sarawak in 1997. The same virus was isolated in the 1998 Taiwan epidemic. Now, what is the virus in the Singapore epidemic? Is it EV 71?

Still, we hope that the Government takes consistent measures to control the epidemic. Parents must abide by these measures such as stopping to take children to kindergartens and nurseries in Johor. Nevertheless, there is nothing more disturbing than government departments issuing conflicting directives as seen in the directive by the National Unity and Social Development Minister to close down 3000kindergartens. Next day, the Deputy Prime Minister rescinded the directive.

Meanwhile, we hope that virologists continue to identify the viruses causing HFM in the current epidemic. As we go ahead with the search efforts, we believe that we should have our own Centre of Disease Control. Although the Health Ministry insists that the existing infectious disease outfit and World Health Organization's recognition of one department are sufficient, we urge it to rethink.

We need international coopearation to fight epidemics. Malaysian CDC can improve this coopearation.

Dr Tan Seng Giaw