Alta. health region waits for word on what made two babies very sick

The two infants were transferred from Lethbridge Regional Hospital to Calgary last week, and while there were initial suggestions they might have flesh-eating disease, investigators have ruled that out.

A national news agency reported Friday night that one of the babies has since died, but provincial health officials wouldn't confirm that Saturday.

"The infection control experts do not believe (the infections) were hospital acquired and they do not believe the two cases are connected," said Donna Stelmachovich of the Chinook Health Region, which takes in the Lethbridge hospital.

Stelmachovich said the two children were from different communities - Lethbridge and Fort McLeod, Alta. - and were born on different days.

She said her health region is still awaiting news on tests to determine the exact infection which made the children sick.

Dr. Richard Musto, acting deputy provincial health officer, said Friday night that the organism that causes flesh-eating disease "was not isolated in either baby."

"They were both transferred (to Calgary) with significant infections but to say they are symptoms of flesh-eating disease, that's just alarmist kind of language," Musto said.

Flesh-eating disease is a bacteria that rapidly breaks down tissue surrounding muscles. It can cause death in as little as 12 to 24 hours, but if caught early can be treated with antibiotics or surgery.

Musto reiterated Stelmachovich's assertion that there was nothing to suggest the infections originated from the hospital.

He also said there's been nothing to suggest a breach of proper infection control measures.

"We haven't been able to find any reason why these babies developed the infection."

Neither Musto nor officials from the Chinook Health Region would give out details about the babies such as their age or sex or symptoms, claiming privacy legislation.