The death of an infant in Madhya Pradesh’s Datia district has drawn renewed attention to infant safety, feeding practices, and public understanding of vaccination-related events. Initial suspicions linking the child’s death to routine immunisation given by an ASHA worker were ruled out following a postmortem examination, which confirmed milk aspiration as the cause.
According to Free Press Journal, the incident occurred in Kakrua village, in the Dursada police station area, where a one and half month-old infant died shortly, and three others feel ill after receiving routine immunisation. The proximity of the death to vaccination led to concerns among family members and the local community about a possible adverse vaccine reaction. The case was promptly investigated by district health officials, and a postmortem examination was ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
According to the postmortem report cited by state health authorities, the infant died due to milk aspiration, a condition in which milk enters the airway instead of the oesophagus, leading to breathing obstruction. Medical officials confirmed that there was no evidence linking the death to the administered vaccine.
Milk aspiration is a known medical risk in newborns and young infants, particularly during or after feeding. Infants have immature swallowing coordination, and improper feeding posture, overfeeding, or feeding during excessive crying can increase the risk of aspiration. When milk enters the lungs, it can cause acute respiratory distress and, in severe cases, sudden death.
Pediatric experts note that aspiration-related deaths can occur silently and may be misattributed to other events unless a thorough medical examination is conducted.
Madhya Pradesh continues to record the highest infant mortality rate (IMR) among Indian states, according to government health data. Infant deaths in the state are often linked to preventable causes such as birth complications, infections, aspiration, malnutrition, and delayed access to medical care. 1
Public health experts stress that while vaccination programs have significantly reduced deaths from infectious diseases, neonatal and infant mortality remains closely tied to perinatal care, feeding practices, and early medical intervention.
The Datia incident echoes a similar case reported earlier in Sangareddy district, Telangana, where an infant death initially suspected to be linked to polio vaccination was later attributed to aspiration-related causes. In that case as well, medical investigations ruled out immunisation as the cause, highlighting a recurring pattern of misattribution following infant deaths.
The Datia infant death has been conclusively attributed to milk aspiration, not vaccination, following a medical postmortem. While the case highlights the risks associated with infant feeding, it also brings focus back to Madhya Pradesh’s ongoing challenge with high infant mortality.
Reference
1. National Health Systems Resource Centre. Madhya Pradesh Exemplars State Report 2025. New Delhi: National Health Systems Resource Centre, July 2025. https://nhsrcindia.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/Madhya%20Pradesh%20Exemplars%20State%20Report%201.pdf.
