At least 46 newborns have died in Santos Aníbal Dominicci Hospital, in Carúpano, eastern Sucre state, according to doctors, but healthcare authorities have denied their claims and ensured that only 24 newborns have died, a figure that matches the domestic median for deaths of children under one year of age.

At the end of January, press reports put the number of newborns dead in the mentioned hospital at 24. In December 2005, the figure was 16, and so far this month six newborns have died.

Doctors at Santos Aníbal Dominicci Hospital prepared a report showing that the causes of death included sepsis, respiratory distress, and hyaline membrane syndrome. They claimed that problems emerged when remodeling works started at the delivery room, including repairs of leakage in water pipelines.

While repairs works are under way, deliveries are attended at a provisional room that has been contaminated with enterobacter.