Vomiting bug closes wards at Furness General Hospital (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Vomiting bug closes wards at Furness General Hospital

11:19am Thursday 19th January 2012 in Health

EIGHT wards have been closed at Furness General Hospital following an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

Norovirus has struck in wards two, four, five, six, seven and nine along with the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU).

Visitors have been asked to stay away and the wards are closed to all admissions and transfers, except in medical emergencies.

The HDU re-opened on Tuesday night but the other wards wtill remain closed to prevent the infection spreading to patients and the wider community.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) medical director Peter Dyer said that winter viral infections spread very easily, and in hospitals, where patients are often frail, they could be serious.

The hospital has advised that individuals with viral symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, high temperature, diarrhoea or vomiting, do not visit the site unless absolutely necessary.

The trust has asked people to contact ward staff if they feel that a visit is necessary, and to avoid bringing babies, children or vulnerable adults to the hospital.

A UHMBT spokesman said visits to intensive care units, small babies, children or people undergoing treatment for cancer or blood disorders should only be made with the approval of medical staff.

People with the norovirus usually recover between 12 and 60 hours without treatment.

The elderly and young can be more vulnerable to infection.

Anyone with concerns has can contact NHS Direct on 0845464647.