In their first detailed update on the pig-borne disease outbreak in southwest China's Sichuan Province since August 8, the ministries of health and agriculture yesterday said there were no known deaths or cases of new infection dated to between August 4 and 20.

The report, The Evaluation of the Epidemic Situation of Streptococosis in Sichuan Province, said 204 infections and 38 deaths took place up until noon on August 4, and 20 people are still in hospital.

Previous media reports said patients came from 75 villages in 40 townships of locations including the cities of Ziyang and Jianyang, and the counties of Lezhi and Zizhong in Neijiang City.

All the patients had direct contact with ill or dead pigs before showing symptoms, according to ministry experts, and had symptoms of fever, weakness and sickness followed by internal bleeding and shock.

The report repeated previous conclusions that the epidemic was caused by a strain of the bacterium Streptococcus suis, which is endemic to many pig populations.

Previous figures included suspected cases that may have later been confirmed as unrelated, and some cases of infection where transmission was dated to before August 4 were only reported after that date.

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2005)