The Flemish health agency, Agentschap Zorg en Gezondheid, confirmed on Tuesday that another incident had been reported in a nursing home, bringing to four the number of suspicious deaths occurring in such institutions in recent days.
The information was received "very recently" and was being reviewed, the agency said without providing any further details. It confirmed that an investigation had been opened into the incident at the Sint-Lambertus Buren care center in Halen, Limburg, which is now under increased surveillance.
Earlier in the day, the Flemish Minister of Welfare, Hilde Crevits, mentioned a "fourth situation," in addition to the incidents in Oostrozebeke, Hasselt and Halen. She described it as a "serious event" that had not been reported by the establishment.
A judicial inquiry has been opened following the death of a resident of the nursing home in Halen who was given an insulin injection although not a diabetic.
The Limburg public prosecutor's office indicated on Tuesday that this was not an intentional act but a natural death. However, serious shortcomings were observed during inspection visits, such as a shortage of nursing staff as well as problems with medication safety and with residents' health records, it said.
The establishment has been placed under reinforced supervision.
