China: 21 children die of intestinal virus outbreak
BEIJING (AP) - May 2, 2008 Xinhua said all those suffering from Enterovirus 71 were under
age 6 and most were under age 2. The outbreak was first reported in
March in Fuyang a city in the eastern province of Anhui.
The report gave no details on the latest death from the virus,
which causes fever, mouth sores and a rash with blisters.
Xinhua quoted Gao Kaiyan, director of the Anhui provincial
health department, as saying the total number of infected children
stood at 2,477.
It said about 700 children are hospitalized, 36 of them in
serious condition, and just over 1,000 are being treated as
outpatients. Some 740 youngsters have recovered, Xinhua said.
Some of the children have been diagnosed with brain, heart and
lung damage, the report said.
The number of cases has steadily increased, the Anhui Health
Bureau's Web site said earlier this week. An official investigation
into the cause of the outbreak is under way, along with a
prevention and control effort to contain infected areas, the bureau
said.
Enterovirus 71 is one of several viruses that cause hand, foot
and mouth disease, which is characterized by fever, mouth sores and
a rash with blisters. It is spread by direct contact with nose and
throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of
infected persons.
The illness mainly strikes children young than 10 and is not
related to foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle, sheep and
swine.
