BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- Eight farmers have died from an outbreak of bubonic plague in northwestern China¡¯s Qinghai Province over the past thee weeks, however a spokesman from the Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday the disease had been brought under control.

    A circular released Wednesday by the Qinghai Health Department said that nineteen cases had been reported in four counties and 11 people had recovered. ¡°Most of the patients were farmers, and apart from one case which needs further investigation, all were infected after hunting or eating marmots,¡± the circular said

    The Ministry of Health sent staff to Qinghai on October 9 to help bring the disease under control. Local authorities provided funding for drugs and ordered the stepping-up of surveillance work and the isolation of infected areas.

(BEIJING TODAY)