The Hippocration Board decided to suspend the operation of all inpatient wards following State Lab results that confirmed the presence of the Legionella bacteria that has claimed the lives of two babies born at the clinic, the Cyprus Mail reported on January 7 as cited by Cyprus News Agency. The first newborn died last Tuesday and the second on Saturday. The babies were two of the 11 infected with Legionnaires disease, contracted at the Hippocration private clinic between December 17 and 27. All had been discharged healthy. They developed symptoms a few days later and were rushed to Makarios Hospital.

According to an official announcement, the preliminary results showed elevated levels of the legionella bacteria in the water distribution system in the neonatal unit and the obstetric ward. Very high levels of the bacteria were identified in the automatic humidifier in the neonatal unit. No patients treated in other wards of the Hippocration Hospital have contracted the disease, which has struck 11 newborn babies, two of whom have died.