Sunday, January 4, 2009

Two babies die of Legionnaires' disease in Cyprus

NICOSIA, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- A two-week-old baby died of Legionnaires' disease in Cyprus on Saturday, while two more infants are still in critical conditions, local media reported.

Seven other babies are now in hospital to receive treatment for pneumonia, and they are in a better condition now, Cyprus News Agency reported.

A newborn died on Tuesday after being affected with the Legionnaires virus.

All the infected infants were born between Dec. 17 and 22 at the same private clinic in Nicosia, where they contracted the rare bacterium.

The maternity ward of the clinic has been closed since the suspected outbreak of Legionnaires' disease.

The final results of laboratory examinations will be announced next week.

Legionnaires is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, caused by an airborne bacteria normally generated in moist environments

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