Malaysia child dies from virus

Malaysia child dies from virus

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A highly contagious virus which has killed
four children in Singapore has claimed its first victim in
Malaysia with the death of a boy aged three, reports said Friday.

The boy died Tuesday in the southern city of Johor Baru just
across the border from Singapore, the Star and New Straits Times
reported.

Senior state health official Nooraini Baba was quoted by The
Star as saying the results of blood tests were still awaited.
But she said the boy had symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease
-- lesions on his hands, feet and around his mouth.

In Singapore, a total of 30 children have been hospitalized
with the virus in the last week and doctors have reported a total
of 408 children showing symptoms of the disease since Sunday,
when authorities ordered them to report all cases.