Viral Disease Sickens Nearly 900 in China

May 21, 01:21 PM

Current Headlines: By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

BEIJING An outbreak of a viral disease common in children has sickened almost 900 people in eastern China, but the outbreak has been contained, state media said Saturday.

The outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease began in late April in the city of Linyi in Shandong province, the Xinhua News Agency said.

About 470 patients had recovered by Friday and another 393 people mostly children were still sick with more than half still in the hospital, Xinhua said, citing the deputy director of the provincial health department.

The latest information was likely a response to media reports last week that said more than two dozen children had died and that there had been a coverup. The reports also said the true figures had not been released to prevent public panic. Local health officials dismissed those reports as rumors.

(c) 2007 Record, The; Bergen County, N.J.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.