Two people have now died from an outbreak of pneumonic plague in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

The deaths involve two herdsman in Ziketan town, Xinghai county of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The men were both in their thirties and were neighbors. The outbreak was discovered on July 30th, and has affected 10 other people in the same town. The patients are being quarantined, and do not show any symptoms of fever or cough.

Local health authorities are continuing to disinfect the region and track down those who had close contact with the patients.

(CCTV August 3, 2009)