However, the hospital’s clinical director José Pedro Figueiredo said there was no question of an outbreak of disease. A total of 21 patients are currently either infected or colonised by the bacteria.
Of the eight infected patients four are in intensive care, with one expected to be released from hospital on Wednesday, two having a favourable prognosis, and the other a reserved prognosis.
Jornal de Notícias had earlier reported that the cases in Coimbra were associated with an outbreak in Gaia, near Oporto, in which three people died.