Enterovirus type 71 ( EV71) is one of the major etiological agents of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), which often causes severe neurological complications. Since EV71 was first isolated in 1969, several epidemics of EV71 infection have broken out around the world, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region with high incidence of neurological involvement in recent years. Many researches have been conducted to investigate the structure of EV71, the mechanisms that may cause neurological complications, and the opportunities for vaccine development.