The Niagara Health System has declared unit outbreaks of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) at St.Catharines General and at Welland Hospital.

The units involved are C3 East, Medical Unit, at the St. Catharines General Hospital Site, as well as the Woolcott Wing at the Welland Site.

An outbreak is declared when the number of hospital-associated cases is higher than normal.

There have been seven cases in the last month in C3 East and four cases in the Woolcott Wing since the last week of June.

NHS officials say all infection prevention and control measures are in place to control the spread of the infection and bring the outbreak to an end as quickly as possible.

MRSA is a bacteria that lives on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy people.

Occasionally it can cause an infection and become resistant to certain antibiotics.

It is spread from one person to another by contact, usually on the hands.