All hospitals were ordered to closely monitor patients for possible adverse reactions, said Li Bin, Heilongjiang health bureau head.

To date, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) had received no such reports from outside Yunnan.

Wandashan Pharmaceutical has more than 570 staff and has manufactured ciwujia for more than 30 years.

Siberian ginseng injections are often used to treat thrombosis caused by weak liver and kidneys. It is also believed to be helpful in treating coronary heart disease, nervous exhaustion and menopausal problems.

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