China has issued a national alert, calling for more efforts to control a virus that has been blamed for the deaths of 22 children in one city.

The virus is known as Enterovirus 71 or EV-71, a type of hand, foot and mouth disease.

As of Thursday night, more than 3,200 cases had been reported in Fuyang, a city in largely rural Anhui province.

Twenty-two people have died there, but 978 remain in hospital, with 58 in either serious or critical condition, said China's health ministry.

Xinhua News Agency reported that a boy who died Friday in southwestern Guangdong province was infected with EV-71, and a second suspected case is under investigation.

Cases of hand, foot and mouth outbreaks have been reported in two other provinces, but haven't been confirmed as EV-71.

"Health bureaus at all levels must recognize the importance and urgency of preventing the spread of infectious diseases," the ministry said.

The disease mainly strikes children under the age of 10. Symptoms include fever, mouth sores and a rash with blisters.

People become infected by direct contact with nose and throat discharges, saliva, fluid from blisters, or the feces of infected persons.

The nationwide order said preventing the spread of infectious diseases must be done "to guarantee the smooth staging of the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics and to practically preserve social stability."

China came under criticism during the SARS crisis of five years ago for attempting to cover up the outbreak, which eventually went global.

Chinese state media cited the SARS case when quoting people from Fuyang who accused the government of a slow response.

On Thursday, the World Health Organization said the first cases appeared in Fuyang in early March, but the situation got much worse starting April 19.

The agency credited the Chinese government with a rapid response, saying it cut the rate of fatalities substantially.

China has reportedly used the lessons of its SARS experience to increase spending on the detection and monitoring of infectious diseases.

With files from The Associated Press