Algeria investigating baby vaccine deaths

xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> Algeria investigating baby vaccine deaths

http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2001/12/24/eline/links/20011224elin023.html

Algeria investigating baby vaccine deaths

ALGIERS, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Algeria said on Sunday it was investigating the sudden deaths of seven babies who had been inoculated with a measles vaccine.

The official APS news agency said another 28 infants who had been treated as a precaution left a hospital on Sunday in Oued al Abtal village, in Mascara region, 310 km (190 miles) west of Algiers. The seven babies died on Saturday shortly after being vaccinated at the hospital.

Health Minister Abdelhamid Aberkane told state-run radio the vaccine itself probably was not to blame for the deaths, arguing it had been used in Algeria for a long time. He hinted that "a lack of vigilance" may have caused the deaths. But he said the ministry had banned the use of the vaccine, called Rovax, until the inquiry's results were announced.

"We shall know what happened between the use of this vaccine and the way it was given to the seven infants. The same vaccine is being used throughout the homeland. There are no problems with it and it is valid until 2003, and has not expired," he added.

On Saturday, the ministry said in a statement it had sent a team to the Oued al Abtal hospital to probe the deaths.

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