Death toll from Chinese toxic milk rises

Beijing: A third child has died and 6,244 infants have fallen sick from ingesting toxic milk, Chinese authorities said on Wednesday.

The number of infants diagnosed with "acute kidney failure" had risen to 158, Health Minister Chen Zhu told a televised news conference.

The Chinese government has sacked four officials in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province where dairy company Sanlu Group is based.

The sackings included the vice mayor in charge of agriculture, Zhang Fawang, and the director of the city's food and drug watchdog, Zhang Yi, as well as chief officials for animal husbandry and quality inspection.

Chairwoman and general manager of Sanlu, Tian Wenhua, was also dismissed.