Deaths from Hand Foot and Mouth Disease???? (Score 1)

Speaking as a pediatrician, this is a stunner. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease leading to death is practically unheard of. However, typical Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease is caused by coxsackie virus, while these illnesses were attributed to enterovirus 71 - known to cause viral meningitis. While viral meningitis is typically mild and self-resolves, deaths have been reported (Lum, LCS, Wong, KT, Lam, SK, et al. Fatal enterovirus 71 encephalomyelitis. J Pediatr 1998; 133:795.). So, this is not necessarily the emergence of some superbug. We will just hope and see. In the meantime, wash your hands.