Chinese baby dies of viral disease, third fatality in outbreak that has infected hundreds

An 11-month-old boy has died of hand, foot and mouth disease in eastern China, the third fatality linked to an outbreak of the viral infection since April, state media said Thursday.

The boy was taken to a hospital in Linyi city on Monday after developing a fever and a rash with blisters, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing Bao Wenhui, deputy director of the Shandong provincial health department.

"His condition was stable on Monday but suddenly worsened in the early hours on Tuesday," Bao was quoted as saying.

A 14-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl have also died in Linyi city since April of hand, foot and mouth disease, which is common in children. It has sickened 1,263 in Linyi, 872 of whom have recovered, according to Bao.

The outbreak appeared to be slowing down, with the number of new patients reported each day dropping from more than 100 to about 60, Bao said.

Shandong reported 2,477 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease in 2005, including one death, and 3,030 cases in 2006, two of which were fatal.

Media reports earlier this month said more than two dozen children had died and that there had been a cover-up to prevent residents from panicking. Local authorities said the stories were rumors.

China has in the past been accused of foot-dragging in releasing information about outbreaks of diseases such as bird flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is characterized by fever, mouth sores and a rash with blisters. It is spread by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the stool of infected persons. The illness is not related to foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle, sheep and swine.