This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7628125.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
'Thousands ill' due to China milk | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Nearly 13,000 children in China have been hospitalised due to tainted Chinese milk powder, officials say. | |
China's health ministry said 104 out of 12,892 babies showed serious symptoms. | |
Four infants have died after drinking the milk of the Sanlu Group containing the industrial chemical melamine, which could cause urinary problems. | |
Meanwhile, in Hong Kong, a toddler has been diagnosed with a kidney stone after drinking the powder - the first such case outside mainland China. | |
A number of Asian and African countries have now banned Chinese dairy imports following the scandal. | |
Chinese police have arrested 18 people in connection with the scandal. | Chinese police have arrested 18 people in connection with the scandal. |
Premier's pledge | |
At a regular news briefing in Beijing, officials from the Chinese health ministry said 12,892 infants were currently being treated in hospitals around the country. | |
They said that 1,579 babies had been treated and discharged, adding that hospitals had checked nearly 40,000 baby patients. | |
Meanwhile, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said that the authorities were doing everything possible to "prevent this happening again, not just with milk products, but with all foods". | |
In Hong Kong, a three-year-old girl was diagnosed with a kidney stone after drinking Chinese milk powder, the government said. | |
It said the toddler, who had drunk China's Yili milk every day for 15 months, had not developed kidney disease and had been discharged from hospital. | |
Melamine was first found in baby milk powder made by the Sanlu Group. In total, melamine has been found in products made by 22 companies, including Yili. | |
Suppliers are believed to have added melamine, a banned chemical normally used in plastics, to diluted milk to make it appear higher in protein. | Suppliers are believed to have added melamine, a banned chemical normally used in plastics, to diluted milk to make it appear higher in protein. |
The additive is blamed for causing severe renal problems and kidney stones. | The additive is blamed for causing severe renal problems and kidney stones. |