The number of suspected cases of a virally transmitted hand-foot-mouth disease among Chinese children has risen to 9,729, including 26 deaths, DPA quoted state media as saying on Monday. At least 1,010 infections were reported in Beijing but a World Health Organization official said the spread of the disease was unlikely to influence the Beijing Olympics in August as only young children were infected, Xinhua news agency said. The agency said 8,531 infections were reported nationwide, while a state-run website in the eastern province of Zhejiang reported an additional 1,198 cases from January to May, which were apparently not included in the Xinhua total. One child had died in Zhejiang, bringing the total number of deaths to 26 from the disease, which causes symptoms including ulcers and blisters in the mouth, rashes on the hands and feet and fever. It is spread mainly by enterovirus or EV71, but can also be transmitted by several other viruses. The government said the first and largest outbreak reported, in Anhui province to the immediate northeast of Zhejiang, was caused by EV71. The disease mainly affects infants and young children and is life- threatening in a small number of cases owing to complications like lung haemorrhage. It remained unclear how many of the thousands of suspected infections were confirmed by tests, although Xinhua said tests had shown the presence of the EV71 virus in 24 of the 25 children who died. The virus is transmitted through saliva, blister fluid and faeces but it is rare among adults, who are strong enough to fight off the virus.
