At least six infants died as a result of being fed milk contaminated with melamine, following the scandal that hit almost 300,000 children in China, Chinese official media reported Tuesday.

Four months after the scandal of melamine contamination was revealed, 861 infants and babies are still hospitalized with kidney problems. In total, 154 are in a serious but stable condition, the health ministry was reported as saying.

While the ministry confirmed the six deaths, it remained unclear whether the number included three babies who were reported to have died earlier as a result of the contamination.

Two fatalities were reported from the Gansu province, and one each from the provinces Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Guizhou and Shaanxi.

About 294,000 infants fell sick, with 51,900 requiring hospital treatment mostly after developing kidney stones, from milk formula tainted with melamine, a binding agent used for making fertilizers and coating fibres in furniture production.

The use of the chemical was widespread in China's milk and formula production because it made products appear to have a higher degree of protein.

Tens of thousands of tons of milk and dairy products were withdrawn from the market after high levels of melamine were also found in some fresh milk, long-life milk, yoghurt and sweets.

The chemical was also found in eggs and egg products as melamine was also used to produce fake-quality foodstuffs for animals.