Published Saturday, 21 January 2012
A team of specialists is carrying out a bio-decontamination to determine the source of the pseudomonas infection.
The process began on Saturday morning and is expected to take 24 hours to complete.
Health Minister Edwin Poots has confirmed that further testing now shows the numbers of confirmed infected cases of pseudomonas to be six, instead of seven.
In a statement, Mr Poots said that there have been no new confirmed cases of pseudomonas infection after three babies died over the last two weeks.
He said: "The Health Service is continuing to work tirelessly to ensure that safe, specialist neonatal care remains available for all babies.
Ensuring that we eradicate the source of infection and are able to fully reopen the neonatal unit as quickly as possible, remains a key priority.
Health Minister Edwin Poots
"The neonatal network is managing well and standard infection controls are in place in neonatal units.
Mr Poots reassured expectant or new parents that every step would be taken to provide infants with a high level of care.
He said: "As one would expect in circumstances such as this, there is currently extra pressure on the system, however, with the help of all neonatal units in Northern Ireland our service is coping.
"I fully understand the anxiety of parents and the wider community, however, we are doing everything we can to ensure safe continuity of care for the babies, and support for their families."
The neonatal unit at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital is the only part affected by the Pseudomonas outbreak.
The delivery wards and all other services are operating as normal.
Expectant mothers should attend their appointments as scheduled.