China still searching for cause of antibiotic-related deaths
(AP)
Updated: 2006-08-10 13:48
BEIJING - Chinese investigators are still searching
for the cause of at least six deaths among patients who received the same
antibiotic, a deputy health minister said Thursday.
Local officials have been ordered to file daily reports on
possible new victims, said Jiang Zuojun.
"We can't tell what was wrong with the drug at present," Jiang said at a news
conference.
The government banned the drug, clindamycin phosphate glucose, last week
after a 6-year-old girl died and dozens of people fell ill. Five more fatalities
have been reported since then, and news reports say there is a possible seventh
death.
Investigators have conducted tests on 10 aspects of the drug and nine have
found nothing wrong, while the final test - on possible bacteria in the drug -
hasn't been completed, according to Jiang.
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