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July 16, 2010

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Malaria drugs cleared

THE illnesses suffered by 104 villagers who took anti-malaria medication were "normal" reactions, and not linked to the quality of the drugs, local authorities in Sichuan Province said yesterday.

Children were given the same dosage as adults - four chloroquine pills and three primaquine pills - at the Dongxing District Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Neijiang City, head of the center, Yuan Qi, said.

"Those under 16 years of age should have been given smaller doses," Yuan added.

Exhaustion and nausea are common reactions after taking the medicine, said Liu Xiaodan at the No. 1 People's Hospital in Neijiang.

The medicine was made by Shanghai Zhongxi Pharmaceutical Ltd Co.

An investigation showed there was nothing wrong with the medicine's quality, Yuan said, adding it came from the provincial CDC and was given free.

Lu Dajiang of Shashi Village was diagnosed with falciparum malaria on May 11 and got treatment, the provincial health department said.

Some 143 people from nearby Mawan Village who were in close contact with Lu took the medicines on Monday. Soon after, they began complaining of exhaustion and nausea.

Meng Yushan, who complained of a headache after taking the medicine, died at around 8pm on Monday.

Seventy-five people are still being treated in hospital.

Falciparum malaria causes tissue to die from lack of oxygen to the brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, and other organs.




 

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