KINGSTON, Jamaica — The governing People’s National Party (PNP) this afternoon said it is satisfied that the occurrence of Klebsiella, the bacteria that has infected 42 infants, killing 18, at the University Hospital of the West Indies and the Cornwall Regional Hospital is being addressed competently by the health authorities.

In addressing the contentious matter in a statement released to the media late Tuesday, the PNP said following a press conference today, the party has been assured that there is nothing mysterious about the illness as indicated in sections of the media.

It said the bacteria forms part of a recurring pattern of infection affecting premature infants globally, including developed countries in North America and Europe.

The party wishes to express its deepest condolences to the families which were affected, the PNP statement said while expressing full confidence in health authorities.

“The PNP is further reassured by the actions of the Health Ministry which has recently begun to implement the Programme for the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality (PROMAC) following its submission of a project proposal which has received the highest ever grant funding to the health sector of some 22 million Euros or J$3 billion,” the statement read.