The Nong Plalai Child Development Center has been closed following an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease that sickened 11 children.
Mayor Pinyo Homglan ordered the center shut and disinfected June 13. Teachers were ordered to contact parents and advise them to bring their children to doctors for checkups.
Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than 5 years old. However, it can sometimes occur in adults. Symptoms include fever, blister-like sores in the mouth, and a skin rash. The disease is caused by viruses that belong to the Enterovirus group, which includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and enteroviruses. The current outbreak is caused by Enterovirus 71.
Outbreaks are frequent in Thailand, with one epidemic in 2012 affecting 17,000 people.
Pinyo said reports started coming in June 12 about youngsters ages 3-4 getting sick. The center was shuttered to allow for a strict cleaning and sterilization. The shutdown was expected to last for about a week.
