32 measles cases reported in north China university

A university in north China's Shanxi province has reported 32 cases of measles since late December, local authorities announced on Tuesday.

As of Tuesday, 32 cases of measles have been confirmed in Datong University in the city of Datong, with two having recovered and been released from the hospital, the city government said in a news conference.

Thirty others are still being treated in local hospitals and are in stable condition now, the government said.

Local health authorities have sent experts to help with the disease control work in the university. To date, 68 students with fever symptoms have been quarantined and 2,306 of their classmates and roommates have received body temperature monitoring.

Meanwhile, 3,200 people who had close contact with the infected were vaccinated in the wake of the outbreak, according to the government.

Measles, a respiratory infection caused by Morbilliviruses, causes symptoms such as fever, coughing, runny nose and a rash, and usually strikes children. Spring is the prime infection season.

China has pledged to reduce the incidence of measles. The incidence rate of measles stood at 39 cases per 1 million people in 2009, and dropped to 7.5 cases per 1 million people in 2011.