Deadly virus spreading in China kills 21 children

Beijing: A deadly virus has spread rapidly in eastern China, killing at least 21 children and infecting nearly 3,000, Xinhua news agency said on Friday.

"There was one more fatality on Thursday afternoon, so the latest death toll is 21," Xinhua reported, citing Anhui's health chief.

Enterovirus 71 began spreading in Fuyang in the eastern province of Anhui in March but authorities only reported it publicly on Sunday, saying there had been 789 cases.

By Thursday, the number had risen to 2,946, Xinhua reported. A total of 879 children were still in hospital fro treatment, with nine of them in critical condition.

Enteroviruses are spread mostly through contact with infected blisters or faeces and can cause high fever, paralysis and swelling of the brain or its lining.

There are no vaccines or antiviral agents available to treat or prevent the virus.