Urgent probe into baby deaths
09/06/2005 17:58  - (SA)  

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More babies have killer disease Unit closes after 11 babies die Baby deaths spark hospital row Baby deaths: Bio cops on track

Durban - The health minister has appointed a "high-level" team to investigate the outbreak of klebsiella infection at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Durban, in which 12 babies have died.

Addressing some of the parents on Thursday, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said: "We view this outbreak seriously and we have moved swiftly to ensure the impact of the infection is mitigated."

Lindiwe Khuzwayo of KwaZulu-Natal health department said the family of each baby would be given R7 000 to help them.

In the past two weeks, there have been 13 confirmed cases of the bacterial infection.

The only baby still surviving was moved to a nearby private hospital on Monday.

However, Aziza and Amith Sayed said they were concerned that their baby, Anish, might have brain damage or other complications because of jaundice and convulsions from the infection.

Twin daughters died

Another mother, 23-year-old Nonkulu Leko Majola, said her pain was even worse after losing her twin daughters just days after they were born.

"I feel very bad," she said as she wiped away tears.

The health department said klebsiella is a bacterial infection common to most hospitals and it was unknown where this outbreak had originated.

Meanwhile, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital closed its neo-natal unit and moved 18 newborn babies to general intensive care.

Three of those babies were also undergoing tests for the infection.

- SAPA

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