Quake victims need antibiotics

People in Lushan county urgently need antibiotics to treat infections, said doctors in the county.

By Monday afternoon, medical teams had treated 648 people, mostly with head and spine injuries, the oldest being 96, but more antibiotics and serum are needed, said Tang Weige, president of the 42nd Hospital of the Chengdu Military Region.

Tang leads a rescue and medical team in Lushan county.

Yin Rutie, a doctor from West China Women’s and Children’s Hospital, said their team lacks antibiotics to prevent children catching pneumonia.

They also lack thermometers, because people treated tend to take the thermometers, said Yin.

Cheng Jiangmei, 38, said she and her one-year-old daughter survived the quake because her husband dug them from the rubble. However, her daughter has caught a cold due to the rain.

“I fear that she might develop pneumonia,” said the mother.

Xu Wei contributed to this story.