A 17-month-old boy died of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) Monday in Anhui Province in east China, the local health authority said on Friday.

The boy, surnamed Hou, was a native of Lixin County in Bozhou city of Anhui. He was rushed to hospital on January 18 night after showing symptoms of fever, rashes on hands and buttocks, and vomiting for about two days, the provincial health administration said.

The baby's situation worsened early next morning and died during emergency treatment after being transferred to a senior hospital.

Dozens of HFMD cases have been reported this month in Anhui, particularly in Bozhou and Fuyang. The No.2 People's Hospital of Fuyang alone has received 15 children as of Friday, including 13 from Lixin.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2009)