Mary Papayya

Mary Papayya

The KwaZulu-Natal health department has rejected reports that the klebsiella bacterial outbreak had claimed the life of a sixth baby at Umlazi's Prince Mshiyeni Hospital.

Lungile Ngema, whose baby son Oyama died on Sunday a week ago, said doctors informed her that her son died from klebsiella.

Two weeks ago five other babies died from the klebsiella outbreak in the same ward as Oyama. Now Ngema wants health officials to account for her baby's death.

Yesterday Kwazulu-Natal health department spokesman Leon Mbanjwa said Ngema's baby was among the two newborns who were declared klebsiella-free.

"According to our records seven babies were affected by the bacteria. Five died and two were undergoing treatment. In addition two other babies were tested for the bacteria - one of whom was the Ngema baby. The tests came back showing that both babies were klebsiella-free."

He said medical records had shown the child had died of cardiac arrest.

"Oyama was underweight at birth. He was also diagnosed with a hole in his heart," said Mbanjwa.