Four infants die after anti-measles vaccine, nurse arrested

March 14, 2010 06:55 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 07:05 am IST - Damoh (Madhya Pradesh)

Four infants have died after anti-measles vaccine was administered to them in Madhya Pradesh following which a nurse was arrested by police and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

An auxiliary nurse and midwife (ANM), Durga Tiwari, who had administered the vaccine to the infants was booked under IPC section 304 (Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) after her arrest, officials said on Sunday.

Nine-month-old Arman Vishwakarma, who was being treated with 11 other critically ill children, breathed his last Sunday morning at the district hospital here to become the fourth victim.

Three others Gaurav Vishwakarma (nine months), Karnika Thakur (11 months) and Rohini (13 months) died on Saturday, a day after they were administered measles vaccine by Health Department at Anganwadi Centres. These centres are run by State Women and Child Development Department.

District vaccination programme in-charge Dr. Anupam Kulshetra and vaccine depot in-charge ANM Saraswati Nair have also been suspended, they added.

The action came after Madhya Pradesh Health Department Director A.N. Mittal along with his team reached here and inquired about the matter.

Preliminary reports had said the nurse had apparently carried the vaccines home in a thermos flask and stored it in a refrigerator overnight before bringing it back in thermos and distributing it.

The team also met victims in the hospital, officials said.

Mr. Mittal said strict against would be taken against those responsible for the incident.

Madhya Pradsh Water Resources, Housing and Environment Minister Jayant Malaiya on Sunday visited the victims in the hospital and met the family members of the deceased at their residence. Financial assistance of Rs 10,000 was given to each of the victims.

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