Royal Baby: Superbug closes ward where Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth

The rumoured due date of the Royal Baby of 25 April is now passed, and concerns are growing over a superbug that has shut the hospital ward where Kate Middleton was due to give birth.

A screening of eight patients for a microorganism and subsequent infection has shut down a surgical ward at St Mary's Hospital.

Of the eight patients that were found with Carbapenemase producing enterobacteriaceae, three developed localised infections, but all have completely recovered.

A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: "People on the ward were screened for the condition and eight were found to be carrying the microorganism.

"Sometimes people carry it in their gut and it lives there harmlessly, it doesn't need to be treated at all, but it only becomes a problem if it affects a part of your body. Three people have been treated for the infection and have recovered.

"The ward has been closed, what that actually means is no new admissions are coming on to the ward, patients are still being treated.

"The ward is due to be reopened early next week pending a deep clean, after which we hope to return to business as usual.

"There have been no new infections."

Royal Baby plans unchanged

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said that plans for the birth at the Paddington hospital had "not changed" but a source told the Independent that the timing couldn't be worse.

Diana is the people's choice if the Duke and Duchess have a girl, the name of Prince William's late mother.

According to a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times, 12% believe that calling the infant after her paternal grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales is the top choice.

The survey of 2,200 adults found Alice and Charlotte were the next most popular choices, tying neck and neck, with support of 9% each.

If the baby is a boy, 13% are favouring the name James. Other strong contenders are Alexander (8%) and Richard and Louis, with 7% each.

The excitement is growing as the duchess is due to go into the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London very soon.