2 children found positive for enterovirus

MANILA (Updated 10:22 a.m.) -- Two Filipino children were found positive for enterovirus but the Department of Health (DOH) is still conducting tests to confirm whether they contracted the more dangerous strain of the virus, Enterovirus 71 (EV-71).

The health department recently intensified security among travelers following the deaths of 56 children in Cambodia due to EV-71.

EV-71 is one of the major causes of hand, foot and mouth disease and is sometimes associated with severe central nervous system, according to Wikipedia.

But DOH epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag said Tuesday in his Twitter account, "The #DOH is still awaiting lab results of two suspect #HFMD cases reported recently #EV71 not found yet from these cases."

In a television interview Wednesday morning, Tayag said he is expecting the lab results today, Wednesday, adding that the children will be released from the hospital as soon as found negative of EV-71.

He declined though to divulge the name of the hospital where the two were admitted.

He said the children are not from the same neighborhood and have not travelled for the past month, noting that their case may not be associated with EV-71.

Tayag said the DOH reported these cases as they “wanted hospitals to report any suspected cases of HFMD and this is, of course, to also alert the public that the HFMD doesn't have to come from other countries because we have them except that we don't have fatal form of the disease."

Earlier, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said all hospitals in the country were directed to remain vigilant for similar cases, as the matter remains unresolved in Cambodia. (Sunnex)