Chinese toddler dies of viral disease, second fatality in outbreak that has infected hundreds

A 14-month-old boy has died of hand, foot and mouth disease in eastern China, the second fatality linked to an outbreak of the viral infection since April, state media said Monday.

The boy was admitted over the weekend to Linyi People's Hospital in Linyi, a city in Shandong province, with symptoms that included a fever and rash with blisters, the Xinhua News Agency said.

"But his condition worsened quickly and he died on Saturday evening despite doctors' efforts to save him," Xinhua said, citing Bao Wenhui, deputy director of the Shandong health department. No other details were given.

A 2-year-old girl was diagnosed with the disease and died April 29 after being hospitalized.

Hand, foot and mouth disease, which is common in children, and has sickened 981 people in Linyi and surrounding areas since April, Xinhua said. Some 609 have recovered, it said.

The information is likely a response to media reports last week that 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.

According to Xinhua, 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.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is common in young children and is characterized by fever, mouth sores and a rash with blisters. It is not related to foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle, sheep and swine.