Severe enterovirus A71 associated hand, foot and mouth disease, Vietnam, 2018: preliminary report of an impending outbreak
Nhan LNT., Hong NTT., Nhu LNT., Nguyet LA., Ny NTH., Thanh TT., Han DDK., Van HMT., Thwaites CL., Hien TT., Qui PT., Quang PV., Minh NNQ., van Doorn HR., Khanh TH., Chau NVV., Thwaites G., Hung NT., Tan LV.
Since January 2018, over 53,000 hospitalisations and six deaths due to hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) have occurred across Vietnam with most cases from September onward. In a large tertiary referral hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, enterovirus A71 subgenogroup C4 was predominant, while B5 was only sporadically detected. The re-emergence of C4 after causing a severe HFMD outbreak with > 200 deaths in 2011–12 among susceptible young children raises concern of another impending severe outbreak.