BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- The recent outbreak of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) will not affect the Beijing Olympic Games, health ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said here on Wednesday.

    China is confident that it can control the spread of the disease with effective prevention methods, Mao said at a press conference jointly held by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.

Two experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention do experiments at the virus lab of the Fuyang Disease Control Center in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, May 6, 2008. Medical experts sent by China's Ministry of Health set up a virus lab in Fuyang to do scientific research in enterovirus 71, or EV71.(Xinhua Photo/Chen Yehua) Photo Gallery>>>

    He said other than Fuyang city in the eastern province of Anhui, which reported the initial outbreak and the most fatal cases of the disease, the rest of the country had not reported a rise in HFMD cases compared with previous years.

    The city has recorded 4,496 HFMD cases since March 20. Of these cases, 22 have been fatal, with 42 patients listed in critical condition as of May 2.

    "The disease in Fuyang has been brought under control by improving prevention methods and medical treatment of infected children," Mao told the news conference.

    He said the health ministry has taken a series of measures to prevent a large-scale spread of the disease.

    "We have also included HFMD as a C class epidemic that must be reported to the ministry, to strengthen the reporting of the disease," Mao said.

    According to Mao, two kindergartens in Beijing have reported cases recently, and local health authorities have closed the two schools already.

    Noting that HFMD mostly occurs among children, Mao stressed: "Beijing has not reported a remarkable rise of hand-foot-mouth disease cases in comparison with previous years, nor a higher number of fatal cases."

    He added: "Health departments at all levels including those in Beijing will ensure the HFMD outbreak does not affect the Beijing Olympics."

    But Mao noted that China may experience another outbreak of HFMD in June and July, according to expert analysis of the disease.

China expects higher incidence of viral disease through July

    BEIJING, May 7 (Xinhua) -- China will see a higher incidence of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in June and July, said the Health Ministry spokesman here on Wednesday.

    There has been no unusual pattern in the HFMD outbreak so far, said Mao Qun'an, the health ministry spokesman, at a press conference. Full Story

Two experts (1st, 2nd L) from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention do experiments at the virus lab of the Fuyang Disease Control Center in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, May 6, 2008. Medical experts sent by China's Ministry of Health set up a virus lab in Fuyang to do scientific research in enterovirus 71, or EV71. (Xinhua Photo/Chen Yehua) Photo Gallery>>>

 

Two experts (1st, 2nd R) from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention do experiments at the virus lab of the Fuyang Disease Control Center in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, May 6, 2008. Medical experts sent by China's Ministry of Health set up a virus lab in Fuyang to do scientific research in enterovirus 71, or EV71.(Xinhua Photo/Chen Yehua) Photo Gallery>>>

An expert from the Institute of Pathogen Biology of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences does experiments at the virus lab of the Fuyang Disease Control Center in Fuyang, east China's Anhui Province, May 6, 2008. Medical experts sent by China's Ministry of Health set up a virus lab in Fuyang to do scientific research in enterovirus 71, or EV71. (Xinhua Photo/Chen Yehua) Photo Gallery>>>

A girl learns the proper way to wash hands under the direction of her teacher at Shenzhuang Kingergarten in the Minhang District of Shanghai, east China, May 7, 2008. In order to ensure children's health and prevent the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), all kindergartens in Shanghai started to practise morning checks after the May Day holidays. The number of HFMD cases reported in Shanghai has totaled 1,988 as of May 5, according to figures reported by local health bureau.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

A doctor examines a child at Sigang Village in Yaohai District of Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, May 5, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>