The virus, known as enterovirus 71 or EV71, has been spreading since March.
All the children who are infected with the virus are younger than 6 years of age with the majority being 2 years old.
Many were reportedly recovered but 412 children remain in the hospital with 26 of them reportedly seriously ill.
Enterovirus 71 can cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease in young children. It is characterized by several days of fever, ulcerative lesions in the mouth and rashes on the hands and feet.
The illness is sometimes followed by meningitis, encephalomyelitis or even paralysis and can lead to death in serious cases.
Currently, no treatment is available and the cause of the infection has not yet been determined.
