The alleged death toll from a potentially hazardous antibiotic
injection rose to six yesterday after two elderly people in Hunan and Sichuan provinces were identified as likely
victims of the drug.
Chen Dexiang, 74, a teacher in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, went to
hospital with a cold on August 2, reported local newspaper
Xiaoxiang Morning Post. The hospital prescribed five drugs
including an injection of clindamycin phosphate glucose -- the drug
at the center of the investigation -- produced by the Anhui Huayuan
Worldbest Biology Pharmacy Co. This was the only treatment Chen
received on the day.
Chen became unwell and his temperature rose dramatically after
receiving the injection. He was rushed to the People's Hospital of
Zhangjiajie where he died three hours later. Chen's relatives are
convinced his death was caused by the injection after learning
about its other possible victims through media reports.
Meanwhile, relatives of senior citizen Hu Qingxiu, of Anyue
County in southwest China's Sichuan Province, said she died after
being treated with the drug after breaking a bone. They said Hu
suffered chest and abdominal pains after the injection on July 20
and later died.
More deaths and cases of adverse reactions linked to the
injection have emerged as an investigation continues into the drug.
The medication was banned by the State Food and Drug Administration
(SFDA) on August 4 and a nationwide recall is in progress.
The previous four deaths were in Heilongjiang, Hebei, Hubei and Shaanxi provinces.
SFDA spokesman Zhang Jixiang yesterday refuted media reports
about a possible cover-up by the Anhui Provincial Food and Drug
Administration. Zhang said the Anhui authorities' announcement of
the recall of the drug was timely and there were strict procedures
to be followed when dealing with reports of adverse patient
reactions to medicines. ?
The Anhui company has stopped production though as
yet no direct charges have been leveled at the firm. The company
said it had sold 3.18 million units of the injection to 26
provinces, autonomous region and municipalities of which 1.4
million have been recalled so far.
On Monday the Ministry of Health released guidance notes which
describe the possible symptoms of an adverse reaction to the
injection and how to best to cope with them. . ?
(China Daily August 9, 2006)