A WARD at the General Hospital has been closed following an outbreak of the Norovirus.

Corbi่re Ward was closed to admissions and visiting restricted after it became apparent that four patients and six nursing staff had been affected by the virus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

A hospital spokesman said that staff movement had been restricted with essential staff only to have access to the affected ward, and that increased environmental cleaning had begun and would continue on a daily basis.

The spokesman said that the outbreak at the hospital was a reflection of an increased incidence of diarrhoea and vomiting in the community.

‘To ensure containment of the infection, which has been identified to be Norovirus, Corbi่re Ward at the General Hospital has been closed to admissions and visiting restricted,’ he said. ‘We wish to assure members of the public that clinical management of the patients of Corbi่re Ward will not be compromised at this time.’

He added that members of the public were asked not to visit the hospital if they had symptoms which included diarrhoea with or without nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain and/or fever and, in that case, should consult their GP.

The situation will be reviewed by hospital senior management on a daily basis.