"If the cause turned out to be common pneumonia, the image of our hospital could have been tarnished," she said.

"But I could not risk people's lives for fear of losing face.

"My 20-year experience told me it was no simple lung infection."

Liu begins her job at 7 am daily and returns home only at 10 pm. But she still cannot call it a day as "I have to be on call the whole night in case of emergency cases".

She has maintained that grueling schedule for a month even though she once suffered from breast cancer.

"I like spending more time in the wards taking care of the children."

After prolonged contact with infected children, Liu has developed rashes on her palms - a typical symptom of the disease. "I have been infected. But except for several red blisters, it will do no harm to my health," she noted.

HFMD typically affects children younger than five but should they also be struck by the EV-71 virus, their lives are at risk because there is no anti-viral vaccine worldwide.

(China Daily May 6, 2008)