Three cases of collective enterovirus infections have been reported in Macao's creches, the Health Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) announced Monday.

The cases involved 12 sick children respectively from three local creches, and all of them were not in serious conditions, and did not need to be hospitalized, according to the Bureau.

Previously, three cases of collective enterovirus infections have been reported on April 14, which were also found in local creches, but none of the 13 sick children contracted the enterovirus type 71 (EV71).

The EV71 disease is highly infectious among small kids aged below five. A 17-year-old local schoolgirl died of encephalitis after contracting EV71 in 2004, which was the first locally confirmed case of encephalitis caused by EV71 in Macao.

The Health Bureau also said that it has conducted a collection of samples from students for examination, and the above-mentioned creches have proceeded with cleaning, disinfection and air ventilation maintenance, in order to contain the infection.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)