Scarlet fever claims 2nd victim in China

HONG KONG, June 22 (UPI) -- Scarlet fever killed a 5-year-old boy in Hong Kong, making him the second person to die of the disease this year on the island, Chinese health officials said.

The Hong Kong Center for Health Protection said the boy was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital Sunday after his condition worsened, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. He died Tuesday after developing toxic shock syndrome, the report said.

His clinical diagnosis was scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome, the report said.

The report said the kindergarten school in the New Territories on the Chinese mainland that the boy attended had no other cases of scarlet fever. However, a chickenpox outbreak since last month has affected 11 other children there.

Health authorities Thursday advised the school to suspend classes for seven days and disinfect the premises.

The Hong Kong CHP said 466 cases of scarlet fever have been reported this year. The first death, that of a 7-year-old girl, was reported last month.

University of Hong Kong health scientists warned the scarlet fever strain that killed the two children had mutated, meaning it has become more contagious, China Daily reported.

"This (mutation) may nicely explain the 'unusual' large outbreak of the scarlet fever in Hong Kong recently," said CHP Director Thomas Tsang, while warning that there could be outbreaks on the mainland and Macao.

Parents were advised to visit doctors when their children begin to show early symptoms of fever -- sandpaper rash, sore throat and strawberry tongue. Generally, the fever can be controlled within 48 hours with antibiotics if the patient gets the proper treatment in the early phase.