The number of children sickened by suspected melamine-tainted milk products in China has more than doubled and apparently spread beyond mainland China -- raising fears that the impact of the tainted products could be more widespread that initially thought.

中國因食用含有三聚氰胺有害物質奶粉而染病的嬰幼兒數量在不斷攀升，而且已經波及到中國大陸以外的地區，中國乳品丑聞范圍的擴大，加劇了消費者的不安情緒。

China's Health Ministry announced Sunday that 12,892 infants and young children have been sickened by tainted milk powder -- more than double the number previously reported -- according to state-run Xinhua news agency. Of these, 104 have serious symptoms, and 1,579 have been cured and discharged, the agency said.

據新華社報道，中國衛生部部長宣布，截至上周日，共有12,892名嬰幼兒因食用有毒奶粉而染病，超出上次報告中數目兩倍多。衛生部還表示，其中較重癥狀的嬰幼兒有104人，已經治愈的有1,579人。

Previously, Chinese officials said more than 6,200 children had been sickened by melamine found in baby formula. At least four children have died. Xinhua reported the first death from from the toxin on September 12.

先前中國政府官員曾表示有超過6,200名嬰幼兒因食用含有三聚氰胺的嬰幼兒奶粉而染病。至少4名嬰幼兒已經死亡。新華社9月12日報道第一例因毒奶粉死亡的嬰幼兒。

In addition, nearly 40,000 other infants and young children have received outpatient medical treatment and consultation as a result of the tainted milk, Xinhua reported on Sunday.

另外，新華社周日報道，因為食用毒奶粉而接受門診治療和咨詢的嬰幼兒有近40,000人。

Melamine is commonly used in coatings and laminates, wood adhesives, fabric coatings, ceiling tiles and flame retardants. It has shown up in testing done on milk and yogurt, prompting at least two supermarket chains in Hong Kong to pull dairy products by Mengniu and Yili from store shelves, representatives from the companies told CNN Friday.

The Chinese State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said the amount of the chemical found in the milk would not cause ill effects in adults who drank less than two liters a day.

中國國家質量監督和檢驗檢疫管理部門表示，如果成年人每天引用含有三聚氰胺的牛奶不超過兩升，則不會染病。