Health News
S. Africa officials to investigate hospital after 29 infant deaths
Mar 3, 2011, 13:11 GMT
Johannesburg - South African health authorities have ordered an investigation of a local hospital after the deaths of 29 babies there in January, officials said.
Eastern Cape health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said late Wednesday that an investigation team of epidemiologists, senior officials and doctors was looking into the deaths at the Cecilia Makhiwane Hospital in East London.
Kupelo said that the babies were all extremely low birth weight, below 1 kilogram, and 13 of them died from HIV-related complications.
Doctors also found klebsiella - a bacteria which can cause acute diarrhoea - in three new-born babies.
'However the department at this stage cannot conclude that there has been an epidemic or outbreak,' Kupelo added.
A report by the South African news agency Sapa said preliminary investigations by hospital authorities revealed that 23 of the 29 babies were referrals from clinics and hospitals around East London.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Health
- 1. US Supreme Court to decide fate of healthcare law
- 2. Obama's health law hangs in balance with skeptical court
- 3. Supreme Court begins hearing on Obama's landmark health law
- 4. China vows to end transplants from executed prisoners
- 5. Nordic walking a simple way to get fit
Older Talkback
