National
Childrens finger and toe nails fall out because of a virus in Valencia
By h.b.
Jun 27, 2008 - 8:29 AM

The Spanish health service has put two telephone help-lines into action following the appearance of a strange virus in the Valencia area which has led to 11 children losing their finger and toenails.

Health officials say the virus is quite contagious and therefore more cases can be expected. They underline that its effects are benign and that it has an incubation period of a few days. It can be spread through the air and also by the sharing of dummies and toys.

It’s thought that at least 100 children have come into contact with it so far and a group are being closely monitored by the Valencian Health Centres. Nails eventually grow back with the use of a cream and in hygienic conditions.

The numbers supplied are 963 184 819 and 963 184 823, but the 20minutos newspaper says that their attempts to reach the information lines have been unsuccessful. In theory the lines are attended in the hours 9-2 and 4,30 to 7pm.