IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Beijing

Screening to cut newborn deaths

The National Health Commission has launched a project to screen for congenital heart defects among newborns in 24 provincial-level regions, including Shanghai and Hebei province, to lower the country's neonatal mortality rate. The screening, given to newborns within six to 72 hours of birth, is expected to help identify and treat babies with malformed hearts. Congenital heart disease is a primary cause of infant deaths in China.