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South Africa superbug kills six newborns
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 17, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – An outbreak of the Klebsiella
pneumonia superbug that killed six newborns at a government hospital in
Johannesburg has forced medics to close the facility’s neo-natal and
maternity wards.
The Thelle Mogoerane hospital in the eastern Johannesburg township of
Vosloorus has been in the grip of the antibiotic resistant bacteria since
July 11.
“We can no longer admit babies here,” said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi
in a media briefing on Sunday.
The affected patients are being transferred to another government hospital
as well as the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, which opened in
Johannesburg 18 months ago, he added.
The health minister said overcrowding undermined the facility’s infection
control measures.
He said neonatal wards in Gauteng province, which includes the financial
hub Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, were at 132 percent capacity on
average.
The province has huge numbers of patients from neighbouring countries
including Zimbabwe who travel to South Africa in search of better quality
care.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1538 hrs