Four health officials have been sacked over an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) that killed at least three children and infected more than 3,000 others across two provinces.

Those dismissed were Yang Baojun, director of the health bureau in Minquan county, Henan province; Wang Zaiji, head of the People's Hospital, and two officials from the local disease prevention and control center, China National Radio (CNR) reported yesterday.

The Ministry of Health confirmed all four helped to cover up the outbreak in Henan province this year, as well as the death of a 2-year-old girl, CNR said.