2012 hand food and mouth syndrome epidemic in Thailand: Geographical and virolological source

Dear Sir,

Hand food and mouth syndrome is an important viral infection in the pediatric population. In the tropical countries with poor hygiene, the outbreak of this disease can be seen. ^[1],[2] This disease can present in acute febrile illness accompanied with classical lesions at hands, feet, and mouth. The disease can be serious and fatality can be seen. In July 2012, a new outbreak of hand, foot, and mouth syndrome occurs in Thailand (more than 18,000 cases in Thailand) and this disease still exists at present (27 July 2012). A recent death case was also reported in the capital, Bangkok, Thailand. Focusing on this outbreak, it is interesting that the epidemic occurs in Bangkok, where the best sanitation and hygienic system can be expected in Thailand. Of interest, before the wide epidemic in Bangkok, the outbreak in a nearby country, Cambodia, was reported (in late June 2012). The same pathogenic organism, enterovirus 71-D4, can be seen in both Thailand and Cambodia. It is believed that the outbreak cross the border from Cambodia to Thailand via the immigration of workers and this can reflect the importance of need to upgrade the travel medicine knowledge on infection control. Indeed, in the present day, due to the good transportation system and easy migration, the migration of the epidemic disease from a setting to another new setting to cause a big outbreak can be expected.

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

DOI: 10.4103/1755-6783.121020