WHO: Lethal virus will not impact Beijing Olympics

THE virus that has killed 26 children and infected nearly 12,000 across China will not affect the Beijing Olympic Games this August, an official of the World Health Organization has said in Beijing, a Beijing-based newspaper reported today.

"I don't see it at all as a threat to the Olympics or any upcoming events, because the virus mainly infects infants and children," China Youth Daily citied Hans Troedsson, a WHO China representative, as saying.

Hand-foot-mouth disease cases usually peaks in June and July and is a common illness among children under five years old that can be fatal. It usually starts with a slight fever followed by blisters or ulcers in the mouth and on the hands and feet.

As of yesterday, the number of hand-foot-mouth disease cases totaled 11,905 on the mainland.

The first cases were detected in Anhui Province at the end of March, but the provincial government didn't report it to the public until April 15.

The health official said he "understood" the delay in Anhui since "it is very difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stage," the report said.

He confirmed the WHO had received a report from the central government 24 hours after the diagnosis.

In Fuyang City, Anhui Province, 22 children have died. Another 5,151 children have been infected across the province.

Health authorities in Zhejiang yesterday said 1,198 children have been infected by hand-foot-mouth disease in the province and a five-year-old boy had died early last month.

The southern province of Guangdong reported 1,692 cases yesterday while Beijing updated its figure to 1,482 cases.

Cases have also been reported in the provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan, Shaanxi and Hebei.

China has issued a nationwide alert to control the disease, closing kindergartens and sending officials to visit nurseries and primary schools and educate staff on hygiene and prevention.

Source: Shanghai Daily