WHO representative: No cover-up in EV71 cases

China didn't cover up hand, foot and mouth disease cases, the World Health Organization's China representative said, according to the Wall Street Journal. Hans Troedsson, the representative, said information about the outbreak was delayed because of trouble with clinical diagnosis. When enterovirus 71, which has infected nearly 16,000 people and caused almost 30 deaths, was identified as the cause of the infections, the result was reported to the WHO. Cases of the disease appeared in early March, but official notice was released in late April. The disease is a common illness in China and usually non-lethal. A spokesman from the health ministry said there were no serious outbreaks of the disease apart from a city in Anhui province. "Nationally, except in Fuyang, we have identified no serious outbreaks of the disease," he said.