Five babies have died from infections they acquired in a filthy hospital in northern China, state press reported Thursday, amid a scare over a highly-contagious disease among children.
The five babies died because of sub-standard conditions at a clinic in the city of Tianjin, and even a transfer to a better-equipped children's hospital in neighbouring Beijing could not save them, Xinhua news agency said.
"The clinic's sub-standard hygiene conditions and flawed management were to blame," it said.
Incubators at the Tianjin clinic were seriously contaminated and were not thoroughly sterilised, leading to the babies being infected, the report added, citing experts.
Up to six other infants could also have died at the same clinic due to the unhygienic conditions, Xinhua reported, citing parents who recently lost their babies there.
Thousands of infants and toddlers in China have been sickened by hand, foot and mouth disease — also known as enterovirus — and at least three confirmed deaths attributed to the disease have been reported in recent days.
The spread of the disease has led parents to voice grave concerns over the health of their children, state press said.
Health departments have confirmed the enterovirus epidemic is more serious than usual, and warned health workers they will be sacked if they cover up its transmission or do not diagnose the disease properly, the reports said.
Enterovirus is highly contagious, with symptoms including fever and sores. Children are notably vulnerable due to their less-developed immune systems.
The disease, which is common in China, caused an unusually high toll last year, infecting nearly 500,000 people and killing almost 200, the China Daily reported Wednesday.
According to previously published government figures, only 17 deaths blamed on hand, foot and mouth have been reported in 2007.
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