Royal baby watch: Ward closed by superbug at Duchess of Cambridge's hospital to reopen next week

A potentially deadly microorganism infected three patients at St. Mary's Hospital in Paddington

A superbug has closed a ward at the hospital where the second royal baby is due to be born.

The Duchess of Cambridge’s due date for the fourth in line to the throne was on 25 April, and she is expected to be admitted to the Lindo Wing in the coming days.

However, 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.”

Senior staff at the Paddington hospital have said they are working with Public Health England and are screening patients on the Zachary Cope ward.

Royal fans covered with Union Jacks and royal memorabilia wait for Kate, Duchess of Cambridge to go into the Lindo wing at St Mary's Hospital to give birth to her second child (AP)

The Duchess gave birth to Prince George in the Lindo Wing on 22 July 2013, which is situated across the road from the eighth floor ward which specialises in cardiovascular surgery.

Crowds have been gathering since Thursday 16 April in anticipation of the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child.