Bill Graveland, THE CANADIAN PRESS

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CALGARY - An expert in infectious diseases will attempt to get to the bottom of the mysterious skin infection that made two newborn babies from Lethbridge, Alta. seriously ill.

The two infants were transferred from Lethbridge Regional Hospital to Calgary last week after contracting a skin condition that causes tissue to die. Doctors are not sure what the condition is, but say it's not flesh-eating disease.

"These children have a very serious infection that is causing tissue necrosis - the death of the tissue," explained Dr. Richard Musto, Alberta's acting deputy provincial health officer at a news conference Tuesday.

"It's not like it is in older children and adults where it's generally an invasive Group A strep. But indeed it is a necrotizing tissue destroying infection that they've got."

Alberta's health minister said his heart goes out to the parents of the two children, but other parents shouldn't be worried.

"The review has not in any way turned up anything that would cause concern for mothers-to-be and the Lethbridge region," Ron Liepert said.

"If we had any concerns that there was something related to the hospital, it's Dr. Musto's responsibility to shut the hospital down."

Dr. Tom Louie, a renowned expert on infectious diseases from the University of Calgary, has been asked to assemble a team and look into the two cases more thoroughly.

"In this particular incidence we've not been able to uncover the source of the infection," said Musto. "Because it's such an unusual event that there is two of these children that have such a significant infection, we thought it wise to ask for another review of this and this is normal practice."

The two children were from different communities - Lethbridge and nearby Fort McLeod, Alta. They were also born on different days.

There have been media reports that one of the children had died as a result of the infection, but that has not been officially confirmed.

"Because of the Privacy Act, we need a formally signed consent form from the parents to release any information about the condition of the children," said Don Stewart, a spokesman for the Calgary Health Region. "We don't have that and I don't think we're going to be getting it."

Flesh-eating disease is a bacteria that rapidly breaks down tissue surrounding muscles. It can cause death in as little as 12 to 24 hours, but can be treated with antibiotics or surgery if caught early.

No deadline has been set for the completion of Louie's investigation. Liepert said the recommendations will be made public.