BEIJING, May 21 (Reuters) - A viral disease that has broken out in eastern China's Shandong province killed a 14-month-old boy over the weekend, state media reported on Monday, a day after authorities said the epidemic had been contained.

The baby died in Linyi city on Saturday after he contracted Coxsackie virus, also called "hand, foot, and mouth disease", which lives in the digestive system and can spread through poor hygiene and faeces, especially in summertime, Xinhua news agency reported, citing local health officials.

Usually, the virus just causes painful blisters around the mouth and throat and hands and feet, as well as fever. But the outbreak in Linyi had already killed a two-year-old girl on April 29.

Authorities only announced that death at the weekend, and said the epidemic had been contained to about 800 people, mostly children.

But the latest report said Linyi confirmed 61 new cases of the disease on Sunday and said the total number since April was 981, including 609 already recovered.

Health officials have launched a public education campaign to encourage children to often wash their hands, and urging isolation of infected people, Xinhua reported.

Shandong province reported 3,030 cases in 2006, including two deaths, it said.

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