Kindergartens in Fuyang City, the worst-hit Chinese city of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), will resume classes on the coming Children's Day on June 1, as the authorities considered the situation has been brought under control.

The viral epidemic mainly caused by intestinal viruses of EV71 and the Coxsackievirus (Cox A16) takes toll on children. Most kindergartens suspended classes after the city, with a population of 9.3 million reported the country's initial HFMD outbreak in April.

As of May 18, 1,116 HFMD patients remained in hospitals in Fuyang, two of whom were still in critical condition, and 17 others are under intensive care, said sources with the city's health bureau.

However, no fatalities of the viral epidemic have been reported for the eighth consecutive day in the city in east China's Anhui Province, as of Tuesday.

The incidence of HFMD in Fuyang was on decline, with discharged patients outnumbering those checking in to hospitals for the first time on May 9.

The government sources said that 72 new infection cases were reported on May 18, and 88 HFMD patients were discharged on the same day.

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2008)