Thirteen children under the age of 14 have tragically died in central Mexico, with authorities suspecting contaminated intravenous (IV) feeding bags as the likely cause. The outbreak, potentially caused by the multidrug-resistant bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca, has raised serious concerns about medical safety in the country.

The federal Health Department has issued a nationwide directive to halt the use of IV nutrition bags produced by the company Productos Hospitalarios S.A de C.V. While investigations continue to identify the exact source of the infection, the company has not responded to calls or emails for comment.

The outbreak was first detected in November at three government hospitals and one private hospital in the State of Mexico, near Mexico City. Of the 20 suspected cases, the bacteria has been confirmed in 15, ruled out in one, and remains under investigation in four others. Thirteen of these confirmed cases resulted in fatalities, while six children are still receiving treatment in hospitals.

According to the Health Department, the affected children succumbed to blood infections caused by the bacteria. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the outbreak on Thursday but assured the public that the situation is “under control.”

This incident has further revealed the systemic issues in Mexico’s public healthcare system, which has been grappling with underfunding and shortages of essential medical supplies.

Last week, the director of Mexico’s National Cardiology Institute, Dr Jorge Gaspar, publicly stated that budget cuts had left the hospital unable to procure necessary supplies. In an internal letter, Gaspar described the situation as “critical.” Although he later assured the public that efforts were underway to resolve the issue, the revelation has sparked widespread concern.

The current crisis also recalls previous healthcare failures in the country. In 2023, an anesthesiologist was arrested for spreading fungal meningitis that killed 35 patients and sickened 79. The infection was traced to improperly stored morphine that the doctor transported between private clinics.

Similarly, in 2020, 14 people died, and 69 others were sickened after a state-owned hospital administered contaminated dialysis drugs.

Mexico’s healthcare system has faced persistent issues since former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador restructured the medical purchasing process. His administration’s pledge to deliver healthcare “better than in Denmark” has been overshadowed by chronic shortages of drugs and medical supplies. Government warehouses intended to centralize and streamline distribution have been largely ineffective, with reports of facilities sitting empty.

The deaths of these 13 children are the latest in a series of tragedies that have exposed the vulnerabilities in Mexico’s medical infrastructure. The ongoing investigation into the IV bag contamination will likely prompt renewed calls for stronger oversight of medical supplies and reforms in the nation’s healthcare system.

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