China's Ministry of Health Sunday ordered health authorities to step up measures to prevent the spread of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) as the number of child deaths rises.

A notice on the ministry website said the disease had spread widely throughout the country and the mortality rate was high.

It ordered local health authorities and branches of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention to intensify reporting of the disease and to trace serious cases to collect detailed information for disease prevention plans.

Kindergartens and elementary schools should continue daily checks for HFMD, and take timely measures to close if the situation was serious, the notice said.

It called for better treatment of patients and better training for the medical staff, especially those at grassroots levels.

The ministry had issued a manual for HFMD prevention in rural areas and the manual should be distributed to all medical workers in all township hospitals and village clinics, the notice said.

Information and awareness of HFMD should be promoted, in cooperation with the media, to raise the public health awareness and avoid rumors.

China reported 186 deaths from HFMD in May, 11 more than in April, and the number HFMD cases reached 354,347 in May, up 43 percent from April.

Medical experts said the virus peaks during the hotter months from May to July.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2010)