Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which has led to millions of attacks and several outbreaks across the world and become more predominant in Asia-Pacific Region, especially in Mainland China, is caused by several Human Enteroviruses including new enterovirus, coxsakievirus and echovirus. In recent years, much research has focused on the epidemiological characteristics of HFMD. In this article, multiple characteristics of HFMD such as basic epidemiology, etiology and molecular epidemiology; influencing factors; detection; and surveillance are reviewed, as these can be help protect high risks groups, prevalence prediction and policy making for disease prevention.

ence of HBsAg (overt infection), occult HBV infection (OBI, defined as presence of HBV DNA in the absence of HBsAg), might be also accounted in some non-or hypo-response cases.Methods & Materials: : Sera from 120 HBsAg negative HCWs with low and moderate levels of anti-HBs, <10 IU/mL (group 1) and <100 IU/mL (group 2) respectively, were selected and were examined for OBI by sensitive real time PCR regardless of HBV serological profiles. Direct sequencing on surface genes was carried out in OBI-positive cases.Results: Four (3.3%) were positive for OBI. All were negative for anti-HBc. Two of the positive cases had moderate levels of anti-HBs (10-100 IU/mL) from group 2. No significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of risk factors or serological data. No mutations were found in surface proteins of OBI cases.Conclusion: OBI in these subjects might be due to other factors rather than presence of "a" determinant mutations. Health care workers with inadequate to moderate levels of anti-HBs (<100 IU/mL) following vaccination, regardless of their serological profile for HBV, should be tested for the presence of HBV DNA by sensitive molecular tests. Anti-HBc is not a reliable marker for suspicion of OBI, especially in high-risk group individuals.