Bug outbreak kills baby and sickens six in neonatal unit

ONE baby has died and six others were in an isolation ward last night after a bug hit a hospital's neonatal unit.

The baby, who was born prematurely at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital almost two weeks ago, was one of two to become infected with the Serratia bacteria.

Staff at the hospital hope that the second baby infected with the bug will be able to go home within the next few weeks, a spokeswoman said yesterday.

Five other babies, who tested positive for Serratia on their skin, are in a six-cot isolation unit as a "precaution".

Lisa Dunn, the hospital's director, said: "Two extremely pre-term babies were infected with the bacteria: very sadly one baby died. The second baby is doing very well and should be going home in a few weeks' time."