Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Vietnam PhD Programme 2014-15
Project 2
Title: HFMD in Vietnam: A Study of Epidemiology and Health Economics
Project overview
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease that is mostly caused by the species Enterovirus A (including Coxsackie virus A 2-8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and enterovirus 71, 76 and 89-92). HFMD is typically a benign self-limited illness among children under 5 years old. Outbreaks of mild HFMD occur worldwide and are often associated with day-care centres, kindergartens, and elementary schools. However since 1997, EV71 has emerged as a frequent cause of severe and sometimes fatal HFMD in Asia-Pacific region.
In Vietnam, HFMD became a notifiable illness in 2008 and is associated with an increasing number of cases and fatalities with over 200,000 cases and 207 deaths in 2011-12.
Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment available EV71, whilst phase III trials of 3 different inactivated EV71 vaccines from China have recently been completed, but have not been implemented. Synthesizing epidemiology data therefore remains essential to controlling this emerging infection, whereas understanding the economic burden of the disease is important as it may influence prevention and clinical management strategy, and outbreak response.
In collaboration with 3 referral hospitals: the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children Hospital 1 and Children Hospital 2, and Centre of Preventive Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as with external collaborators in Australia, Singapore and the US, the Emerging Infections group is running an in-depth research program on HFMD, encompassing clinical, virology, immunology and epidemiology.
This PhD research aims:
- To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of HFMD and its associated climatic variables in southern Vietnam, in particular HCMC – an urban setting with high population density. This will involve the collection and analysis of existing data from 3 hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City
- To determine the contribution of EV71 patients and their household members to the spread of the disease in community. Specifically, the aim is to identify the detection rate of EV71 among household members of EV71 patients and the contagious period of the patients and their household members who have EV71 detected in either throat or rectal swab
- To determine the economic burden of HFMD
Training opportunities
Epidemiology
Mathematical modelling, basic health economics
Virology: PCR, sequencing and virus isolation
Location
OUCRU-VN, Ho Chi Minh City
Time spending abroad may be required as project develops
Supervisors
Le Van Tan, PhD
Rogier van Doorn, MD, PhD
Skills required in the candidate
MD (preferably with paediatric specialisation)/MSc in relevant field
