Infected IV glucose kills 12 pregnant women in India

Four women are still critically ill after being given infected glucose in a maternity ward in the state-run Umaid hospital in Jodhpur, a city in Rajasthan in the country's north-west.

Police are investigating the manufacturer and distributors of the tainted IV fluid.

Remaining bottles of fluid in the hospital were seized after laboratory tests confirmed that some were contaminated, a police official said.

"The hospital administration has banned purchases from the manufacturer of the glucose and the company has been asked to withdraw its IV fluid stocks from all over the country," said inspector general Bhupendra Dak.

Initial tests showed the glucose supplied to the hospital was tainted with bacteria and fungus, Mr Dak said. Health authorities were also inspecting the hospital's operating rooms and the maternity ward for infectious bacteria as part of their investigations, he said.