The Centre for Health Protection today confirmed two Enterovirus-71 cases involving two girls aged four and one, bringing the year's total to 24.

The four-year-old girl came down with fever, oral ulcers and blisters on her hands and feet on May 18. She has been admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital and is in serious condition.

The kindergarten-cum-childcare centre she attends has had no hand-foot-mouth disease outbreak. But her six-year-old sister is one of the six confirmed cases in a Yuen Long primary school. Both schools have been advised to take disinfection measures.

The year-old girl lived in Shenzhen and came down with a fever on May 15. She was admitted to Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital the next day and was discharged yesterday.

EV-71 is a viral infection usually found among young children and is also a causative agent for hand-foot-mouth disease. It is transmitted by direct contact with nose and throat discharges. May to August is the usual peak season.

There were 12 cases last year, 35 in 2004, eight in 2005 and 16 in 2006. For more health tips click here.