Beijing, July 30:

The death toll from a mysterious pig-borne disease continued to rise, with several more cities affected, statistics showed today, despite China saying that the epidemic was under control.

The number of people who died of the streptococcus suis bacteria, which is usually spread among pigs, rose to 32 and the number of cases increased to 163, according to the health ministry’s website. That was one more death and 11 more cases than the day before. While some suspected cases had tested negative, more and more suspected or confirmed cases were being found, with a significant number of people still in hospital, 24 of whom were in critical condition. Only 11 have been treated and released, the ministry said. The epidemic first discovered in June was now affecting 155 villages in seven cities in Sichuan province, including the provincial capital Chengdu, up from two cities initially, the ministry said.