Probe launched into baby's death after polio drops

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh's Banda district have launched a probe into the death of a nine-month-old baby allegedly after she was given polio drops, officials said on Thursday.

Based on a complaint by the victim's family, District Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Santosh Kumar issued directives to seal the vial which was used for administering the drops.

He however, said that so far no such reports have surfaced wherein the polio drops were found contaminated or infected, which could be fatal.

The probe was ordered after Surya Kumar Shukla alleged that soon after his daughter Ishita was given the polio drops by a health worker at their home on Wednesday, she developed breathlessness and by the time she was rushed to the hospital, she died.

According to District Immunisation Officer B.P. Verma, staffers Usha Singh and Bhagwan Babu administered the polio drops to five other children but no one else complained of any side effects.

The investigation will also determine whether the ice box carrying the polio drop vials were in good condition.

District Magistrate Heera Lal met the family and assured a full investigation into the incident. "There has been no precedence of this kind, but an expert committee is being constituted and it will probe all angles."

--IANS

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