The Ministry of Health said the number of enteroviral infections in the first five months of this year increased to 176 cases, up from 132 cases in the corresponding period last year. The enteroviral infection is caused by a number of types of viruses and can affect the central nervous system, the cardiac muscle and skin, IPN reports.

According to a communiqué of the Ministry of Health, the infection is transmitted by enterovirus carriers by fecal-oral and respiratory ways. The children aged between three and ten, including those who attend education institutions, are the most exposed to this infection that can take the form of acute respiratory infection or acute intestinal infection.

The incubation period is 3-5 days on average, with similar clinical symptoms, including fever, enteritis, meningitis and upper respiratory infections.