The Coroner's office has opened an investigation to find out if a campylobacter infection contributed to the death of a Hawke's Bay woman.
Test results last night confirmed an 89-year-old woman, who died at Havelock North on 13 August, had contracted campylobacter. A post-mortem examination revealed she also had other significant underlying health issues.
Earlier this week Age Concern confirmed the woman had been living at Mary Doyle village in Havelock North. The retirement village declined to comment when Hawke's Bay Today contacted them earlier this week.
Coroner Peter Ryan said further pathology testing is being carried out to determine the specific cause of death, and what particular strain of campylobacter had been contracted.
Ryan said that, on the information available to date, it is unclear what effect, if any, the campylobacter infection had on this woman's death. This will be a focus of his coronial investigation.
The statement said Ryan has been asked by Hawke's Bay Medical Officer of Health, Dr Nick Jones, to make the information public to assure there is transparent reporting of any death associated, in any way, with the campylobacter outbreak.
Yesterday afternoon Hawke's Bay District Health Board confirmed there were 87 confirmed notifications, and 250 probables for a total of 337 cases of the bug that has hit Havelock North.
There is currently 16 people in general hospital wards, and one in ICU.
There have been three recent presentations at Emergency Department and 138 to GPs.
