BEIJING, Sept 17: China said on Wednesday a third infant had died after drinking contaminated milk and the number of the sick had leapt to many thousands, while an official said the health threat was concealed for at least a month.

The number of children ill after drinking powdered milk laced with the compound melamine had risen nearly five-fold to 6,244, and those with “acute kidney failure” had reached 158, Health Minister Chen Zhu told a news conference.

The escalating scandal triggered a recall of exports, sacking of officials and detention of a sacked company executive.

A government probe announced on Tuesday showed a fifth of 109 dairy producers checked made batches of products adulterated with melamine, which is banned from use in foods.—Reuters