THE potentially fatal superbug MRSA is becoming more widespread at Southampton General Hospital, it has been revealed today.

And hospital bosses say they do not know the exact number of patients affected on their wards.

MRSA - Methicillin Resistant Staphyloccocus Aureus - is passed on by hand and can cause fever, blood poisoning and pneumonia if left untreated. It can also kill people with weak immune systems.

The Daily Echo revealed in later editions on Tuesday that four people in the hospital's intensive care unit had been struck down with the infection.

One of these patients has since recovered from the bug and been discharged from the unit, but three others in the cardiac intensive care unit are now also infected by the bug.

It is believed the number of cases is now at least in double figures, but hospital spokesman Marilyn Kay said it was impossible to reveal the exact number of patients infected.

She said: "I can't give a snapshot figure. We don't keep a running tally because it's being treated as part of people's whole clinical treat