Sixth baby dies from klebsiella in KZN

The klebsiella death toll at Durban's Prince Mshiyeni Hospital has risen to six, a Durban morning daily reported today. This followed the deaths of five other babies at the hospital two weeks ago. It was announced then that two other babies were infected with klebsiella.

The deceased's mother, Lungile Ngema (20) of Mtwalume, told the Mercury that her daughter, Oyama was born on November 23 and was one of the two babies infected with klebsiella. She the told the newspaper she was never told what klebsiella was, or when or how her child had contracted it.

The newspaper reports that nurses had taunted Ngema, saying mothers like her - who gave birth at home - brought the disease to the hospital. "They made it seem as if it was my fault that my baby had klebsiella. She was born at six months; she came before time and I had her at home before going to hospital," Ngema said.

"When she was a week old, the doctor came to me and said she had klebsiella, and that she had little chance of living," she said.

Ngema said she wanted the hospital to account and pay for her child's death, but that she did not know who to turn to. The KwaZulu-Natal health department was unable to confirm the sixth death as its spokesperson Leon Mbangwa was unavailable for comment. - Sapa