Authorities have reported more than 6,300 cases in a deadly viral outbreak and on Monday raised the death toll to 26 children. The latest fatality was in coastal Zhejiang province. The provincial Health Ministry's website said that in addition to the one death, 1,198 children had been stricken with enterovirus 71. The ministry appealed for any sick children "to be sent immediately to health clinics" and for people to "report the case immediately to health and education departments." There have already been 5,151 cases reported in neighboring Anhui province, where 22 children have died, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Most of the cases were in or near Fuyang, a fast-growing city in the rural heartland of Anhui in central China. Xinhua has also reported three deaths in the southern province of Guangdong. Enterovirus 71, also known as EV-71, causes a severe form of hand, foot and mouth disease with symptoms including fever, mouth sores and rashes with blisters. It is easily spread by sneezing or coughing. The viruses mainly strike children ages 10 and younger. Some cases can lead to fatal swelling of the brain. The illness is not related to foot and mouth disease, which afflicts livestock. There is no vaccine or specific treatment, but most children affected by mild forms of the disease typically recover quickly without problems. The World Health Organization says the virus normally peaks in June and July so there could still be an increase in infections as the weather warms. The outbreak is another headache for China's Communist government as it prepares to host this summer's Olympic Games, already tarnished by unrest among Tibetans in western China and an international torch relay disrupted by protests. WHO's China representative, Hans Troedsson, said the disease was not a threat to the Beijing Olympics because the disease mostly sickens young children. China's Health Ministry has sent teams to Anhui to coordinate treatment of the disease and prevent its spread. State-run television showed workers spraying disinfectant around houses in rural areas outside Fuyang and medical teams visiting families with small children. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.