The latest death in a sudden epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Shanghai happened on Tuesday, when a three-year-old girl - originally from Jiangsu Province - was taken to a hospital in the morning with high fever and died later that night. Her kindergarten's classes has been halted to prevent the disease from spreading. Like the three previous deaths, she was a migrant child. In the first five months of this year, Shanghai saw a 150% rise in HFMD, with 90% of the patients under five years old. more ›

Shanghai has seen a 150% rise in cases of hand, food and mouth disease in the first five months of this year, Shanghai Daily has reported. Last Sunday, 14,920 cases of the virus were reported, 156.8% higher than the same time last year. Children have been the worst affected: 9,642 migrant children have been taken ill with the disease, and out of the ninety children deemed serious cases, 71 were migrant children. Over 90 percent of patients are below five years old, and children under three account for about 60 percent of all cases. more ›

"The objective of this project is to assist students in migrant schools in Shanghai to gain interest and confidence in their English language abilities and to help them pass their middle school entrance examinations. English teaching volunteers are introduced into schools for migrant children in Shanghai. To date, we are running projects in 18 schools across Minhang, Huangpu, Baoshan, Pudong, Yangpu and Putuo districts. The English teaching standards in these schools are low and the Principals welcome volunteers to teach English to the students and/or the teachers either during the school day or at the weekend. This programme offers a rewarding way to get to know another side of China’s society and to contribute in a meaningful way to the education of under-privileged children."