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Child-killing virus speading in China 'no threat to Olympics'
A virus that has killed 25 children across China will not threaten Beijing's Olympic games in August, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:43 May 5, 2008
Beijing: A virus that has killed 25 children across China will not threaten Beijing's Olympic games in August, the World Health Organisation said on Monday.
Health authorities have been battling to contain outbreaks of Enterovirus or EV71, which has killed at least 22 children in Fuyang province and three more in southern Guangdong.
Twelve children remain in critical condition, with more than 600 in hospital in Fuyang. China has issued a nationwide alert, closing kindergarten schools to control the disease.
"I don't see it at all as a threat to the Olympics or any upcoming events," state media quoted WHO China representative Hans Troedsson as saying.
"I think we need to do more research to understand the disease better and the WHO is providing technical advice and support to China."
EV7a can cause hand, foot and mouth disease. It is spread often through contact with infected blisters or faeces. There is no vaccine to treat or prevent EV71.
The disease began spreading in Anhui in early March. It was made public only last week, prompting the media to say that local government officials should be sacked.
Health officials say there was no cover-up in and the reason for the delay was that medical teams were trying to figure out what the illness was.
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