Hospital warning over stomach bug

The Norovirus bug remains contagious 72 hours after symptoms subside

Visitors are being asked to stay away from a Norfolk hospital if they have recently had a stomach bug or have been in close contact with someone who has.

Norovirus has been circulating locally and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has patients on three different wards with the infection.

"No wards are closed because of norovirus," a hospital spokesman said.

"If anyone has symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting they should refrain from visiting patients in hospital."

The Norovirus stomach bug causes nausea and/or diarrhoea and is very easily spread from person to person.

Washing hands important

"The spread of infection is easiest in places where group of people are in close proximity for reasonable amounts of time such as residential homes, schools, hospitals and workplaces," the spokesman said.

Dr Judith Richards, consultant microbiologist at the hospital, said: "It's very important that people who have had the virus, or been in contact with someone who has had it, take precautions to avoid spreading it.

"That means not going back to work or school until three days after the symptoms have stopped.

"People should also avoid visiting places like hospitals and residential homes if they have had the bug or been in contact with it over the past three days.

"We are recommend that, as a matter of routine, all visitors should also wash their hands with hot water and soap when visiting our wards."