WELLAND, Ont. — An elderly patient with Clostridium difficile has died at a hospital in the Niagara region.

The Niagara Health System says the patient died Saturday afternoon at Welland Hospital, which has been battling an outbreak of the infectious bacteria.

The hospital says it is investigating the role the illness played in the death of the patient, who had multiple health issues.

There have been at least 24 deaths connected to C. difficile since outbreaks emerged at hospitals across the province in late May.

The Niagara area has the bulk of patients infected with the bug.

There are currently 47 C. difficile cases at six hospitals in the region.

C. difficile is a bacterial infection that typically spreads through contact with fecal matter.