South China province reports HFMD deaths

Health authorities in southern China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday reported three deaths linked to hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD).

As of Monday, 88,366 HFMD cases had been confirmed in the province, up 72 percent compared with the number during the same period in 2015 (51,327 cases), while down 36 percent compared with 2014 levels (138,513 cases).

Experts warned the disease has entered its high season, which lasts from May to July every year, and infants and children are most vulnerable to the disease.

HFMD is caused by a group of enteroviruses, including EV71, which causes heart and lung complications that can lead to death. It has become one of the most ubiquitous infectious diseases in China due to lack of vaccines.

China's food and drug watchdog approved production of the vaccine in December. The first batch of vaccines were transported nationwide early this year.

(APD)