China probes deaths of 8 infants from infections

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese hospital faces an investigation for failing to report the deaths of 8 newborn babies from infections earlier this month, the official Xinhua news agency said on Thursday.

The deaths between September 5-15 were apparently due to "iatrogenic" infections -- illnesses spread by poor hygiene in hospitals -- and not from the toxic milk powder that has stricken thousands of other children across China, Xinhua said.

But like the milk scandal, the deaths at the Xi'an Jiaotong University Number One Hospital in the northwest province of Shaanxi may have involved a cover-up, the report said.

Because the hospital "had not reported to the health authorities as required," the Shaanxi government ordered the hospital to "pursue culpability for late and deceptive reporting," the report said.

The report did not specify how the hospital handled the deaths. The Xi'an hospital authorities could not be contacted late on Thursday night.

The Ministry of Health learnt of the newborn deaths on Tuesday, and on Wednesday province authorities ordered the ward for newborn children shut down, as well as a thorough check of the hospital to prevent a fresh outbreak.

China is battling a scandal over tainted infant milk formula that has crowded hospitals with close to 13,000 children suffering kidney problems and other complications.

Four have died from those poisonings, which a dairy company and local officials did not report to senior officials and to the public for months.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley; Editing by Paul Tait)