IMSS Reports Five Newborn Deaths at Durango Hospital; Cause Still Unknown

Mexico's social security institute, the IMSS, has confirmed that five newborns died at one of its hospitals in Durango, according to El Universal. The institute said it is still working to determine what caused the deaths, the newspaper reported.

El Universal reported the deaths on Monday, September 21, 2026. The IMSS has not yet identified a cause, and the investigation is ongoing.

Coverage of the case points to a possible link to conditions in the hospital's neonatal intensive care units. La Jornada reported that a bacterium was detected in the neonatal ICUs. That detail has not been confirmed by the IMSS as the cause of the deaths, and the institute has not publicly named a source of the infections.

The case has drawn attention from multiple Mexican outlets, including EL PAÍS and UnoTV, both of which reported that the IMSS is investigating the deaths. Yahoo also carried reporting on the institute's inquiry into the deaths of the newborns.

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The IMSS has not released further details about the infants, the timeline of the deaths, or the specific wards involved. No information has been made public about whether other newborns at the hospital are receiving treatment or monitoring in connection with the same investigation.

What to watch next: whether the IMSS releases the findings of its investigation and confirms what caused the deaths.