A New Viral Infection Causes Death Of A Baby In Britain

A new virus, a modified strain, has led to the death of a 27-week-old baby boy in a hospital in Britain. Five other pre mature babies are undergoing treatment.

The babies are undergoing treatment at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital after they were found to be carriers of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus).

Hospital authorities have confirmed that the baby died due to infection of this new strain, on December 11.

The hospital authorities are reported to have said that the condition can be treated with a wide range of antibiotics.

This strain is different from the one that caused the death of two people at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, last week.

The hospital has released a statement saying the virus is likely to have found its way into the hospital from the public.

The source of the infection is not yet known, the statement said.

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It continues, “Such infections tend not to be hospital-based and it is more likely to have been brought from the community into the unit at some stage over the period of November 22 to December 19.

The hospital authorities declare that this is the first ever outbreak of this new strain within its neonatal unit.

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The hospital's chief executive Paul Forden said, 'Our neonatal unit cares for the very youngest and most critically ill of all our patients.'

'It is tragic that this infection may have played a part in the death of a 27-week-old baby, and our thoughts are with the parents concerned,' he added.

Source-Medindia PRI/M