SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Health Department says a baby has died and another baby has been hospitalized due to a rare illness that caused infection in their bloodstream and central nervous systems.
The illness, called Enterobacter sakazakii, has killed a male baby from Otero County and has left a female baby from Lea County hospitalized.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the illness is associated with powdered baby formula.
Both New Mexico babies, who were unidentified, had been fed powdered formula and other foods. They had different strains of the bacteria.
The Health Department says it's working to determine what caused the babies to develop the infection.
Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil says mothers should breast feed their infants when possible.
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