SINGAPORE - The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) has screened another 31 patients for hepatitis C. This brings the total number of patients screened so far, to 849 as of 1pm today, the hospital said in an update on Thursday (Nov 5).

These patients had stayed in Wards 64A and 67, which were affected by the outbreak, from January to September this year.

Of the 849 patients, 777 had tested negative. The three that tested positive had been announced earlier. Another 69 test results are still pending, SGH said.

A total of 315 staff have been screened, all of whom have tested negative, the hospital added.

SGH announced on Oct 6 that 22 kidney patients had contracted hepatitis C while receiving treatment in the hospital.

Eight patients have died, with five of the deaths possibly linked to the infection.