KUNMING, March 18 -- China has developed a vaccine against hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD).

The human diploid cell vaccine, is the first against enterovirus 71 (EV71), a primary cause of the HFMD.

The vaccine prevented 97.3 percent of testers from contracting EV71, according to the Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the vaccine developer.

The HFMD is caused by a group of enteroviruses including EV71, which causes heart and lung complications that can lead to death.

It has become one of the most ubiquitous infectious diseases in China due to lack of vaccines. Infants and children under five years are most vulnerable.

China's food and drug watchdog approved the production of the vaccine in December, 2015.