Officials in Scotland are investigating a mystery surge in deaths of newborn babies, the second time the phenomenon has been reported in about six months.
The probe was started after 18 infants died in their first four weeks of life in March, which caused the mortality rate to surpass a set threshold and trigger an investigation, Public Health Scotland (PHS) confirmed to local media outlets. In September 2021, 21 babies died in their first four weeks of life, similarly triggering an investigation.
PHS appeared to rule out COVID-19 as a cause for the mysterious deaths, noting that infections in mothers or infants “[did] not appear to have played a role,” according to The Herald newspaper. In September, the agency also said that COVID-19 infections “did not appear to have played a role” in the deaths at the time….