Test fails to find boy's killer virus
A lab test by the Department of Medical Sciences failed to confirm whether a Bangkok Christian College student had died of hand, foot and mouth disease, director-general Phaijit Warachit said yesterday.
The most suspicious type of virus - Enterovirus 71 - that could have killed the 6-year-old was ruled out by the test, even though the virus was taken from the boy's bodily fluid. "We still cannot tell which type of virus led to the boy's death," said Dr Phaijit. He said a thorough autopsy could ensure an accurate result but he doubted whether the boy's family would approve the post-mortem examination. He said his department would need to consult the Department of Disease Control over possible other tests. Dr Thawee Chotithipphaya-sunont, a virus expert at the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, said he did not know why the test had not been successful.
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