Eight newborns died between Sept. 5 and 15 in a hospital in northwest China's Shaanxi province, with an iatrogenic (hospital-acquired) infection suspected as the cause, local authorities confirmed on Thursday.

The babies were among the 94 admitted by the No. 1 hospital affiliated with the College of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi's capital, between Aug. 28 and Sept. 16.

Some were born in the hospital while others were admitted for various illnesses, local sources said.

An initial investigation found no connection between the deaths and the milk powder fed to the babies.

The Shaanxi provincial government has urged the university to punish those who tried to cover up the incident.

Zheng Xiaoming, vice governor of Shaanxi, ordered the newborn wards to be closed and disinfected so as to prevent more infections.

A task force of experts from the State Health Ministry and the Health Department of Shaanxi are conducting further investigations.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2008)