Four children died in southern India after getting measles vaccinations at state-run clinics and the state has suspended use of the vaccine, health officials said Thursday. It was not yet clear exactly what caused the deaths, said Tamil Nadu state's director of public health, P Padmanabhan. Vaccine samples have been sent to a government-run laboratory for investigations, he said.

The sudden death of four children after they were administered measles vaccine in primary health centres in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district is a grievous tragedy. That the deaths should occur in a State with a better record of health services delivery at the primary level is ironical. The involvement of the vaccine belonging to the same batch in different health centres seems to indicate problems with quality, which could have occurred at the point of manufacture, d uring transfer or storage.

The Centre has recalled the measles vaccine, after the administration of which four children died in Tamil Nadu's Tiruvallur district on Wednesday. Instructions have been issued to the States to stop the use of this vaccine until further orders, while the manufacturer has been asked to not to make any further supply, Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told journalists here on Thursday. An experts committee would enquire into the causes of the death and submit its report within two weeks. Thereafter action would be taken, he said.

THE Madras High Court has directed the authorities concerned to stop all illegal quarrying/mining activities in the hill area of The Nilgiris.

MEASLES vaccine comes in powder form. It must be used immediately after it is mixed with a fluid, says Dr Jacob John, former professor of the Department of Clinical Microbiology and Virology . Multi-vial doses of these vaccines must be used within four hours; else they will act as a medium for growing bacteria that can secrete toxins, he says.

THE Centre on Thursday approved the setting up of two coal-based thermal power project units at Tuticorin that will add 1,000 MW to the southern grid. Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Union I&B Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi said the Cabinet approved the setting up of 2X500 MW coal-based thermal power project at Tuticorin, to be executed by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) in joint venture with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).

Four children, all below 10 months of age, died after being administered measles vaccine at Pennaloorpettai and Venkatapuram villages in Tiruvallur district near Chennai on Wednesday. Another 15 children have been hospitalised after developing anaphylaxis reaction after being administered the vaccine, sources in the Public Health Department said.

THE State Government has decided to set up poison treatment centres in all districts in Tamil Nadu. The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine will set up these centres with support from the National Rural Health Mission, said Director of Public Health Dr P Padmanabhan. "Poisoning is becoming a modern epidemic," said Dr C Rajendran, Professor of Medicine and Chiefin-charge of the Intensive Medical Care and Poison Centre, Government General Hospital. Last year alone, the GGH saw nearly 2,500 cases of poisoning, he said.

The Coimbatore-based Sabols, a leading packaged drinking water company in South India, is repositioning itself as Sabols Foods India Pvt Ltd to tap the growing ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food market in the country. "We want to be a pan Indian company catering to the discerning, quality conscious consumers across the country,' KM Senthil, chairman said.

Vowing to protect