Six officials in central China's Henan Province have been removed or suspended from their posts following the revelation of a medical incident in which eight people contracted hepatitis C (HCV), local authorities said Tuesday.

Eight uremia patients were infected with HCV during blood dialysis treatments at the Xin'an County People's Hospital, the county government said in a statement.

Improper conduct at the hospital's dialysis center caused the HCV infections, it said.

A deputy director of the county's health bureau as well as the president, a vice president, and a chief nurse of the hospital have been fired.

Meanwhile, a deputy county governor and the director of the county health bureau have been suspended from their posts pending further investigation, according to the statement.