Antiviral drugs given to kindergarteners since 2008

A parent and a child have a walk outside the Fengyun Lanwan Kindergarten, which was closed for giving kids antivirals drug, in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi province, March 13, 2014. (Xinhua Photo)

Two kindergartens in Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi province have been giving antiviral drugs to children since 2008, local authorities announced on Thursday.

Latest investigation confirmed that kindergartens have given some children the prescription medicine moroxydine ABOB to prevent cold and enhance resistance to improve their attendance, local officials said at a press conference Thursday night.

Police have detained two more suspects, deputy principal of Hongji Xincheng kindergarten, surnamed Zhao and the kindergarten doctor on Thursday, for suspect of illegal medical practice.

The private Fengyun kindergarten's legal representative, surnamed Sun, its principal, surnamed Zhao, and kindergarten doctor, surnamed Huang were detained on Wednesday.

The two kindergartens have a total of 1455 children, according to local police.

Latest investigation showed that the two kindergartens have bought 54,600 tablets of prescription medicine moroxydine ABOB in ten separate times from four medical wholesale companies during Nov. 2008 to Oct. 2013.

Children were offered the medicine on every Spring and Fall. The kindergartens have given young children half or one tablet per day for two days a week, and one tablet per day for three days for elder children.

The Xi'an government set up a team with joint efforts by the city's police, education, health, and pharmaceutical supervision authorities after a parent on Sunday said in a microblog that the Fengyun Lanwan Kindergarten had been giving kids the prescription medicine for years.

Dozens of parents on Tuesday gathered and blocked the road in front of the kindergarten demanding an explanation.

Some parents told Xinhua their kids were experiencing discomfort with several symptoms, including dizziness, leg pain and stomachache.

Earlier, the Xi'an municipal government has submitted ten bottles of 1,000 tablets of the medicine found in Fengyun kindergarten for further testing and ordered medical experts to conduct analysis and assessment of the drug's effects on humans.

The government has started free physical examinations for kids in the two kindergartens and arranged professionals to study the inspection results.

Further investigation is undergoing.