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| 24 babies at Belfast Royal Maternity 'clear of infection' | 24 babies at Belfast Royal Maternity 'clear of infection' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| None of 24 babies at Belfast's Royal Maternity's neo-natal unit have tested positive for the bacterial infection Pseudomonas. | None of 24 babies at Belfast's Royal Maternity's neo-natal unit have tested positive for the bacterial infection Pseudomonas. |
| Over the past fortnight, three babies have died after contracting the infection. | Over the past fortnight, three babies have died after contracting the infection. |
| Four others also got it. One is still being treated, two have recovered, a fourth who was treated, died from an unrelated illness. | Four others also got it. One is still being treated, two have recovered, a fourth who was treated, died from an unrelated illness. |
| Health officials are trying to identify the source of the outbreak. | Health officials are trying to identify the source of the outbreak. |
| They need to stop it spreading and to reassure the public that the rest of the maternity hospital is safe. | They need to stop it spreading and to reassure the public that the rest of the maternity hospital is safe. |
| Experts are considering a number of possibilities, but a recent refurbishment of the unit last November will come under particular scrutiny. | Experts are considering a number of possibilities, but a recent refurbishment of the unit last November will come under particular scrutiny. |
| A spokesperson for the trust said the water system and the sinks were being included in a range of environmental tests. | A spokesperson for the trust said the water system and the sinks were being included in a range of environmental tests. |
| BBC NI health correspondent Marie Louise Connolly said: "The deep clean is over, but it is crucial that the authorities now move quickly to identify the source of this infection. | |
| "The maternity unit is open. We need reassurance that the building is safe and they want to do that." | |
| She said that the source of the infection could be anything from hand hygiene to a member of the public visiting the unit. | |
| "Did the authorities act quickly enough?" she asked. | |
| The first baby died on 6 January and the second on 13 January. A third baby died on Thursday night. |