More deaths linked to C. Diff bug

A hospital bug linked to 77 deaths in Northern Ireland last year has been connected to two more.

So far this year, Clostridium difficile is thought to have been a factor in 53 deaths in Northern Ireland.

These latest fatalities were in hospitals in the Northern Health Trust, which covers an area spanning Cookstown to Larne.

An intensive cleaning regime is in place in its nine hospitals but experts say the bug is rife throughout the NHS.

There were 22 new cases in hospitals in the Northern Trust last month.

Elderly patients are most at risk from the C.difficile bug, with over 80% of cases reported in the over 65-age group.