MANILA: China is working hard to deal with the contaminated diary products scandal, which has so far left four babies dead, a senior official with the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday.

Dr Shigeru Omi, director of the WHO Western Pacific regional office, told a press conference that China is taking the issue "seriously".

"After acknowledging the problems, the Chinese government is very serious about the matter and I hope the situation will be brought under control as soon as possible," Omi said.