Bug infects 40th baby

Another baby has tested positive for the aggressive bug that has claimed three lives in Wellington Hospital's neo-natal intensive care unit.

The latest case was detected on Saturday and the baby has been moved into a separate "red zone" of the unit for those who are infected.

Since October, 40 premature babies have been affected by a new strain of the common bacteria staphylococcus aureus and three have died this year.

Wellington Hospital spokesman Michael Tull said the infant who tested positive had been in the "orange zone" - the area for babies who were known to have been in contact with the bug - so the result was not a surprise.

Three babies from the orange zone have tested positive since the hospital announced the outbreak almost two weeks ago.

None of the nine babies now in the red zone was showing ill-effects from the bug, said Mr Tull.

- NZPA