Health officials investigating an unexplained disease outbreak that has killed more than 50 children in Cambodia say they have detected the presence of a virus that causes hand, foot and mouth disease. But they stressed the investigations were ongoing, with other illnesses, including dengue, also associated with some of the cases.
The outbreak has drawn international attention because of longstanding fears that poor countries such as Cambodia could be incubators for new, virulent disease strains that defy treatment.-snip-
In a news release, the Cambodian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization said that laboratory samples were not available for the majority of cases, because the victims died before appropriate samples could be taken. But in the cases for which samples could be studied, the officials said "a significant proportion" tested positive for Enterovirus 71 (EV-71), which causes hand, foot and mouth disease.
Further investigation is ongoing and this includes the matching of the laboratory and epidemiological information," said Cambodian Health Minister Mam Bunheng, according to the statement. "We hope to be able to conclude our investigation in the coming days," the minister said.
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