China News Service reported on Saturday that one child has died from and six others diagnosed with meningitis B in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since June 8.

The first case was diagnosed by a hospital in Hepu County, Beihai City and was reported to the county's disease control center.

The other cases identified since were all amongst children who hadn't been vaccinated against meningitis B and mostly from Gongguan Township in Hepu.

City authorities established a team of experts to treat patients, but one child died on June 9.

The experts said children under 10 were most vulnerable to the infection, and the city's public health bureau is to vaccinate all children under 15.

Meningitis reports in Guangxi usually peak between May and August. From January 1 to June 17, 43 cases were reported, slightly lower than in the same period last year.

(Shenzhen Daily, China.org.cn June 20, 2005)