Ecuador Health Minister denies 18 newborn deaths, confirms 12 under investigation

Ecuador's Health Minister Jimmy Martin dismissed as "false" the reported figure of 18 newborn deaths during a press conference at Guayaquil's university hospital, explaining that 12 infants died in July from various causes.

"Among these 12 deaths, two have shown the presence of the KPC bacteria," Martin explains, adding that "an epidemiological alert was issued in July and protocols were activated to prevent the spread of this bacteria." The Ecuadoran prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the deaths following the Ministry of Health's identification of bacterial contamination as a possible cause in two cases.