Salmonella closes ward

A hospital's special care baby unit has been closed to further admissions after the isolation of salmonella bacteria from two babies.

The babies are believed to have acquired their infection from a third infant admitted to the unit at Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital on 2 December.

The hospital said steps had been taken to contain the infection and investigations were in hand to determine whether any other babies were carrying the organism. This will include babies who have been discharged from the unit since 2 December.

The infected babies had been "seriously ill" but were said to be responding to treatment.