Hand foot and mouth disease is a global infectious disease caused by human enterovirus. Since late 1990s, outbreaks of EV71-asscoiated hand foot and mouth disease have been reported frequently throughout Asia and severe neurological central nerves system involvement and neurogenic pulmonary edema lead to long-term sequela and fatality. Annual national outbreak of hand foot and mouth disease has occurred since 2008 and EV71 is the major causative agent for the outbreak and associated death. Currently, hand foot and mouth disease is a national priority disease and becomes a growing public health concern in China. Hand foot and mouth is usually a benign self-limited disease, however, 0.05% of sick children succumb to severe complications such as brain stem encephalitis and cardiopulmonary collapse based on national data. To date, no effective antiviral drugs and vaccine are available for treatment and prevention of disease. Early diagnosis and recognition of severe complications, timely clinical intervention for severe cases at an earlier stage and implementation of public health measures are the current mainstay of reducing the impact of outbreaks and its associated mortalities. EV71 vaccine under development in China is a promising strategy to prevent EV71 epidemics and severe diseases and reduce its socioeconomic impact.