24 dead in Canada C. difficile outbreak

TORONTO, July 9 (UPI) -- At least 24 people have died in Ontario hospitals during an outbreak of the so-called superbug C. difficile, Canadian health officials say.

The Globe and Mail reported the Niagara Health System said Friday one patient had died in its Niagara-on-the-Lake facility and two more at its St. Catharines General site, bringing the C. difficile death toll in its seven hospitals to 20.

The outbreak, which began in May, has claimed the lives of at least four more people in other Ontario hospitals, the Toronto newspaper said.

A federal epidemiologist has been sent to the region to investigate the outbreak and make recommendations for controlling it.

The Globe and Mail said cases also have been detected at Ontario hospitals in Orangeville, Guelph, Mississauga and at a small rehabilitation center in St. Catharines.

Three other Ontario hospitals that had cases say they have gotten the disease under control, including the Lennox and Addington General Hospital in Napanee, Toronto East General Hospital and the Juravinski Hospital, which is part of Hamilton Health Sciences.

In an average year, the bacteria claims about 200 lives in Ontario.