Minister for Energy and Health, Konrad Mizzi, said today in answer to a parliamentary question asked by MP Claudette Buttigieg, that the patients reported to be infected by Klebsiella pneumoniae were not actually infected, but were 'carriers'.

This means that the presense of this virus did not actually affect their well-being in the least.

Mrs Buttigieg asked a number of questions about the condition and isolation of the patients, including why the 'Infection Control' system failed and whether or not any investigation of the case is being done.

This Parliamentary Question was asked in the wake of enhanced measures being taken at Mater Dei Hospital to enhance strict compliance with infection prevention and control measures in response to the detection of a New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in four patients localized in one particular area.