Union Health Ministry has deputed a high-level team comprising Drug Controller General of India and two others to hold an inquiry into the reported deaths of four children who were administered measles vaccine produced by Serum Institute of India, at Waghola village of Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.

The team under senior health official and comprising DCGI and deputy commissioner of immunization has been deputed, apart from an on-the-field investigative team, an official statement said here. The team has been asked to submit the report at the earliest. The children were given vaccination at a camp at Waghola recently.

"In all 10 infants of nine months to one year were vaccinated between 1000 hrs and 1130 hrs. The vaccinated children developed symptoms of loose motion, vomiting, fever, and difficulty in breathing at around 1700 hrs and they were admitted to Government Medical College, Aurangabad at about 2130 hrs. The condition of four children deteriorated and they expired on September 27 during the wee hours. The remaining six children are presently undergoing treatment. The State Government functionaries are in the field and conducting investigations. The State Government has withdrawn this batch of vaccine," an official release said.

Meanwhile, reports said the Food and Drugs Administration gave a clean chit to Serum Institute, holding that the company saying no fault could be found in the production of the vaccine. However, control samples of the measles vaccine and the one used in Aurangabad have been sent to the Central Research Institute at Kasauli for further investigations. Serum Institute of India, producer of measles and DTP group of vaccines, meets 100 per cent requirement for measles vaccine of the government. It is also an exporter of vaccines and immuno-biologicals.

The State government has already suspended five employees of the health department alleging negligence while the vaccines were being administered to the children. A three-member committee had been appointed by the State to inquire into the measles death case. The committee of doctors comprises D C Deshmukh, A P Kulkarni and Bindu Rajan.