By Shan Juan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-10 07:38

The number of people killed in cases related to hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) rose to 34 on Friday, with the number of reported cases reaching almost 27,500.

Two of the latest victims were from Anhui, the province hardest hit by the outbreak, which has now reported 22 child fatalities.

On Friday, the State Council held a meeting to discuss methods to prevent and control the disease during the summer, which experts have said will be the time when the virus that causes HFMD will be at its most virulent.

All of the 34 children killed by the disease tested positive for the intestinal virus EV 71, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

EV71 was first identified as a major cause of HFMD associated with neurological damage in the United States in 1969.

Ran Xiangui, deputy director of Fuyang No 2 Hospital - the designated treatment facility for the Anhui city - said: "We have seen that the main cause of death is breathing failure induced by neurological damage."

The most common symptoms of HFMD are mild rashes on the hands and feet, and in the mouth, and fever. In most cases, people recover in four to seven days.

Yang Weizhong, deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said research and development of a vaccine for the disease was under way.

"There are no major technical barriers to developing the vaccine," he said, adding that it should be available soon.

However, as there is currently no cure for severe EV-71 infections, doctors have urged the public to maintain high levels of hygiene as a precautionary measure.

(China Daily 05/10/2008 page1)