Changing Epidemiology of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease in Hong Kong, 2001–2009

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 63; no. 6; pp. 422 - 426
• Main Authors: Ma, Edmond, Lam, Terence, Chan, K. C., Wong, Christine, Chuang, S. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee 30.11.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Disease Outbreaks - statistics & numerical data; Enterovirus - classification; Enterovirus - isolation & purification; Female; General Practice - statistics & numerical data; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - epidemiology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - pathology; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease - virology; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infant; Male; Seasons; Sentinel Surveillance; Young Adult; Hong Kong
• ISSN: 1344-6304; 1884-2836
• DOI: 10.7883/yoken.63.422

We report the surveillance findings of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) collected from a general practitioner-based sentinel surveillance system and outbreaks reported by institutions and a laboratory-based enterovirus surveillance system in Hong Kong from 2001 to 2009. A seasonal peak was detected in the warmer months (May–July), along with a smaller winter peak (October–December) from 2006 onwards. The number of older children (>5 years) infected increased from 25.4% in 2001 to 33.0% in 2009 (P=0.01, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test). Laboratory surveillance detected a cyclical high enterovirus 71 activity every 3 to 4 years. This activity was associated with a higher average hospitalization rate for HFMD patients in the outbreaks reported in the corresponding year, although the difference was only marginally significant (P=0.09, linear regression test). The changing epidemiology of HFMD warrants continuous surveillance in order to guide preventive public-health actions.