Health authorities investigate deaths of 11 newborns

CARACAS (AP):

Venezuelan health authorities are investigating the deaths of 11 newborns within four days at a single public hospital.

Regional health officer Angel Melchor says the babies died from Thursday to Sunday at Central Hospital in the city of Maracay in the central state of Aragua.

He says officials believe contamination with bacteria is a factor.

Melchor told the Venezuelan television channel Globovision on Monday that authorities are investigating the deaths.

He says the newborns were all underweight at birth, weighing between 750 grams (1.6 pounds) and 1.9 kilograms (4.2 pounds). He says the infants' mothers had in the past had urinary and vaginal infections, which could have played a role.