The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed this year's first Enterovirus-71 case, involving a three-year-old boy with no recent travel history.

The boy came down with a rash over his hands and feet and a mouth ulcer on May 2. He saw a private doctor, was not sent to hospital and has since recovered.

The centre's investigation showed his father had symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease. He consulted a private doctor and is in stable condition. Meanwhile, 11 other children in the boy's kindergarten class were also found to have hand, foot and mouth disease.

As the disease is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, the public should stay alert to the threat of EV-71 infection and take preventive measures. Click here for more details, or call the Central Health Education hotline, 2833 0111.

There were 35 EV-71 case in 2004, eight in 2005 and 16 last year.