Lee: Baby who died in Penang a HFMD victim

NIBONG TEBAL: A 17-month-old boy died in Penang on June 6 due to hand, foot and mouth disease, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.

He said it was the first fatality in the country due to HFMD and that laboratory tests on tissue samples from the boy confirmed that his death was because of the disease.

“The boy was admitted to a private hospital in Bayan Lepas on June 3 after experiencing flu, breathing difficulty and mouth ulcers. But his condition deteriorated and he died three days after receiving treatment at the hospital.

“Tests carried out by specialists confirmed that his death was due to lung infection as a result of complications from Enterovirus 71 (EV71) which causes HFMD,” he said after accompanying Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas on an official visit to the Sungai Bakap Hospital here yesterday.

On Saturday, a two-and-a halfyear-old boy from Kampung Pangtray, Daro, Mukah in Sarawak, died, believed to be due to HFMD.

The boy was reported to have come down with fever on Tuesday and developed rashes on his hands, feet and ulcers in his mouth.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah was reported as saying the boy’s death was due to severe lung infection with HFMD and that clinical samples had been taken to confirm the cause of death. — Bernama