Three babies are now dead after drinking melamine-contaminated milk powder, China's Minister of Health Chen Zhu said on Wednesday.

The third fatality occurred in southeastern Zhejiang Province.

Chen did not give further information about the dead infant.

Both of the first two deaths occurred in northwest Gansu Province. A five-month-old boy died on May 1. An eight-month-old girl died on July 22.

Both babies were fed with Sanlu formula and suffered kidney failure.

Aside from the three deaths, a total of 6,244 infants are now confirmed sick after drinking contaminated milk powder.

4,917 infants had minor symptoms and have been discharged from hospitals after receiving medical treatment. Chen said, the remaining 1,327 babies, the majority newborns, remain hospitalized. Of those, 158 babies suffered from acute kidney failure. Chen said 94 were in stable condition.

Most of the babies developed urinary problems, such as kidney stones, after Sanlu's milk powder for three to six months.

As of Wednesday morning, the health ministry had not received reports of babies becoming sick after drinking milk powder produced by other companies.

The health ministry dispatched medical specialists to hospitals throughout the country to help treat sick babies. Medical institutions are now required to provide infant patients with free treatment and to report the number of the tainted milk powder victims on a daily basis.

"We spared no efforts in providing medical treatment for the infant patients," Chen said, "Generally speaking, those efforts have proven to be orderly and effective."

Melamine is a toxic chemical that mainly affects urinary systems. Experts found no evidence, so far, that the chemical could lead to tumors in human bodies.

"Infant patients, even those in critical conditions, can recover from the tainted milk powder-induced diseases if they receive in-time treatment," said Chen.

People can call 010-12320 for medical consultation if they think their child might be sick after drinking tainted milk powder.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2008)