A young child hovers between life and death.
China is trying to contain a deadly outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease which is killing young children.
A severe strain of the virus, which isn't related to foot-and-mouth disease affecting farm animals, is sweeping much of the country.
Latest state figures suggest there are 25,000 cases; China only went public with the outbreak in late April.
Most of the 34 deaths occurred in Fuyang city in the central province of Anhui.
China has issued a nationwide alert, closing kindergartens and dispatching hygiene officials to visit nurseries and schools in a bid to curb infections.
Parents in Beijing are taking every precaution.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) FATHER MR. WANG, SAYING:
"At least you must wash your hands frequently, wash clothes and take a shower every day. The school has asked its students to do so. We've asked our child to do that back at home as well."
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) BEIJING CITIZEN DU SHAOCHI, SAYING:
"We don't go to crowded places. The kindergarten has told us not to bring her to crowded places."
With the Beijing Olympics barely months away, there's real concern in the Chinese capital, where there's been nearly 1,500 cases this year.
Hand-foot-and-mouth is a common illness among children in China.
It's usually mild, but the virus can be severe, producing a high fever, paralysis and meningitis.
Health experts are warning that the numbers of new cases are set to rise and they expect the disease to peak in June and July.
Helen Long, Reuters
hover
Verb
1. (of a bird, insect, or helicopter) to remain suspended in one place in the air
2. to linger uncertainly in a place
3. to be in an unsettled or uncertain situation or frame of mind: hovering between two optionsoutbreak - a sudden violent spontaneous occurrence (usually of some undesirable condition); "the outbreak of hostilities"strain - a group of animals or plants within a species or variety, distinguished by one or more minor characteristics
dispatch -send
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