Children are examined in a kindergarten in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, May 5, 2008. In order to ensure children's health and prevent diseases transmitted by hand, foot or mouth, lots of kindergartens in Zhengzhou started to practice morning examination after the May Day Holidays to promote health habits as washing hands, basking and eating well-cooked food. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) cases reported in China this year rose to 12,164 as of Tuesday, resulting in 26 deaths, according to a Xinhua tally of local official figures.

    The figure stood at 11,905 on Monday, Xinhua found.

    HFMD is caused by more than one type of virus but has similar symptoms, and most of the cases involve young children.

    Southwest China's Yunnan Province had 113 cases and the northeastern province of Jilin recorded 65 cases. The southernmost Hainan Province had 81 cases. No deaths have been reported in these provinces, local health authorities said on Tuesday.

Children go through morning examination in a kindergarten in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, May 5, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    In Yunnan, nine cases were caused by the intestinal virus enterovirus 71 (EV71), while the others were caused by the Coxsackie A16 virus and Echo virus, two other kinds of enterovirus, said Duan Hong, the provincial health department deputy director.

    Outbreaks have also occurred in the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan, Hebei, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi and the municipalities of Beijing and Chongqing.

    EV71 can cause hand, foot and mouth disease, which usually starts with a slight fever followed by blisters and ulcers in the mouth and rashes on the hands and feet.

    The Coxsackie A16 virus causes most cases of hand, foot and mouth syndrome. The major features are painful mouth ulcers and blisters on the palms, fingers and soles.

Children learn the principles of precaution against the hand-foot-mouth disease in Hancheng kindergarten in Hanshan county, east China's Anhui Province, May 6, 2008. An educational program was carried out to fight against the hand-foot-mouth disease in the kindergarten.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Hand-foot-mouth epidemic still continues to spread across China

    BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The number of Chinese children infected with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) continues to rise, with reported cases reaching 9,251 by Monday.

    The latest HFMD infections occurred in the southwestern Chongqing Municipality which reported 42 sporadic cases since Thursday.

China steps up efforts on infectious diseases ahead of Olympics

    BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Health (MOH) has urged local health bureaus to step up the prevention and control of infectious diseases ahead of the Olympics.

    The MOH issued a circular here on Saturday that ordered local bureaus to do their best to prevent and control infectious diseases, since mass outbreaks could easily occur at this time of year.

    BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Health forecast Saturday that cases of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) would possibly increase in the following months since June and July are the peak seasons for the disease.

    This year, more incidents of HFMD, caused by Enterovirus 71, or EV71, were reported in Singapore and China's Taiwan region compared with the same period last year. In China's mainland, more cases were also reported in Anhui and other provinces, according to the ministry.

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