BEIJING - Media reports say the number of children infected with a deadly virus in eastern China has increased by nearly 700 in the last two days.
The virus, Enterovirus 71, has killed 20 children since it was discovered in March in Fuyan, a city in Anhui province.
There have been no new fatal cases in the past five days, but the official Xinhua News Agency says the number of cases has increased to 1,884 from 1,199 in the last two days.
Enterovirus 71 is one of several viruses that cause hand, foot and mouth disease, which 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 mainly strikes children below age 10 and is not related to foot and mouth disease, which infects cattle, sheep and swine.
The World Health Organization's Beijing office said earlier this week that there did not appear to be an epidemiological link among the cases although most of the children lived in rural areas.
