Authorities in Mexico said Tuesday that a total of 17 children have died in central Mexico from suspected contamination of infusion bags, reports ABC

David Kershenobich, the country's public health secretary, said 16 of the victims were underweight and the premature babies were being treated in hospitals; the other victim was 14 years old.

He said two bacteria, including a multidrug-resistant bug, are suspected in the deaths.

Investigators say the bacterial contamination apparently occurred at a plant in the city of Toluca that produced the IV nutrient mixture and that the company was temporarily shut down and use of the product was discontinued.

This is not the first case in Mexico of contaminated medical equipment. In 2023, an anesthesiologist was arrested and accused of causing an outbreak of meningitis in which 35 patients died and 79 people were infected. The doctor carried the morphine from one private hospital to another, spreading the fungal infection, which contaminated the drug at the first clinic.

In 2020, 14 people died after a hospital run by Mexico's state oil company gave dialysis patients medicine that was contaminated with bacteria. More than 69 patients fell ill from the contaminated medicine.