300 Die After Receiving Outdated Malaria Medicine
Lucknow, India - More than 300 villagers suffering from malaria in northern India 
died because government doctors gave them medicines that had expired and were
no longer effective, officials admitted Tuesday. The deaths occurred in September
and October in 30 villages in Uttar Pradesh state. The patients showed symptoms
of malaria including intermittent high fever followed by profuse sweating and
cramps but were not responding to anti-malarial treatment. Malaria is spread
through mosquito bites and is fairly simple to treat. "We were baffled and thought
the disease-causing virus to be a new strain," said state Director-General of
Health HC Vaish. (AP)