Chinese hospital officials sacked over poor infection control after five baby deaths are linked to Echovirus
- Guangdong Health Commission hits out at ‘lax hospital management and a raft of malpractices’, demanding improvement in neonatal services
A hospital chief and a senior official of a health authority in Guangdong province have been sacked over the deaths of five newborn babies.
Guangdong Health Commission said on Saturday the deaths at the Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University in Foshan were a result of poor infection prevention and control.
The babies died after contracting an infection caused by Echovirus 11, a type of intestinal virus. All five had conditions such as pneumonia before contracting the virus. Another 13 were released from the hospital after their recovery, while one was undergoing treatment and was reported to be in a stable condition.
No more cases had been reported since the authority started its investigation at the end of April, it said.
Echovirus typically affects children, as their immune systems have not matured. Most patients show minor symptoms and recover on their own, but some will develop more serious symptoms.