Superbug closes wards at Palmerston North Hospital

An outbreak of a treatment-resistant superbug has closed a ward at Palmerston North Hospital.

Hospital spokeswoman Claire McMahon said the hospital found three patients with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and closed the ward at noon on Tuesday.

Transmitted through skin contact, MRSA can cause boils and rashes, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome.

No more patients would be taken in to the ward until the outbreak had been cleaned up, she said.