Seven people have died after contracting infections from tick bites in east China's Shandong Province, provincial health authorities said Friday.

The seven are among the 156 reported cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) since May 2008, when the provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) started monitoring the disease. Many of the patients were bitten by hard ticks, according to a statement from Shandong's health department.

Shandong is educating the public about the disease and training doctors for its treatment, it said.

The statement came after several deaths from tick bites were reported in central China's Henan Province and attracted nationwide attention.

Henan's CDC said Wednesday 18 people in the province had died of the disease. The victims were among 557 reported cases of suspected HGA since May 2007. Most of the cases were found in Xinyang's Shangcheng and Guangshan counties and Shihe and Pingqiao districts

HGA reduces white blood cell and platelet counts in the blood, leading to organ failure and death. People in close contact with the infected person can also be infected if no precautions are taken.

The disease is curable if treated quickly and most people infected are between ages 40 to 70.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2010)