Special infection control measures have been introduced at a hospital in Northern Ireland after an outbreak of the Clostridium difficile bug, a health trust said today.
Seven cases of the infection have been confirmed in Craigavon Area Hospital, Co Armagh in the past two weeks.
One of the patients died but doctors say C diff was not a factor.
The six other patients have been moved to an isolated outbreak ward and all are said to be recovering.
A deep clean of the hospital has been initiated.
The C diff scare comes in the wake of a major outbreak in the Northern Trust area.
Stormont Health minister Michael McGimpsey set up a public inquiry after more than 60 people died in Northern Trust hospitals between July 2007 and August this year.
Dr Patrick Loughran, medical director for the Southern Trust, said he was concerned at the rise of C diff cases in Craigavon Area hospital.
"The safe care of patients and robust management of C difficile is the Trust's top priority," he said.
"Our infection control systems and procedures have been highly commended in independent reviews carried out earlier this year.
"I am therefore concerned that we are currently seeing more patients with C difficile than we would expect at this time of year.
"Our robust response to the rise in cases has been to introduce a range of additional special measures across the Trust to build on those we already have in place."
All patients entering Accident and Emergency with diarrhoea are now being screened for the infection.
Dr Loughran said the outbreak had coincided with an increase in patients admitted to hospital with the norovirus winter vomiting and diarrhoea bug.
He appealed to all staff and visitors to help maintain a safe and clean environment.
""We are asking all visitors to follow the Trust's visiting policy which includes no more than two visitors per bed, and cleaning their hands before and after visiting," he said.
"We would urge the local community not to visit the hospital unless absolutely necessary."
PA