Sickness bug closes hospital ward

Norovirus, the commonest cause of out-breaks of gastroenteritis in hospitals, has been confirmed on ward five, which takes renal patients.

Most infections occur in the autumn and winter, and the trust which runs HRI and Castle Hill Hospital is urging people with diarrhoea or vomiting not to visit until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

The illness is usually quite mild, lasting for about 48 hours. But people can remain infectious for another 48 hours after symptoms have stopped.

Dr Yvette Oade, Executive Medical Director for the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Norovirus is extremely infectious and can spread rapidly through our patients and staff causing significant discomfort to patients and staff and disruption to the day-to-day running of the hospital.”

People can get advice from their pharmacy or NHS Direct; or if symptoms persist from their GP. When there is no trace of the virus, the ward, which has been closed for two weeks, will undergo a 48-hour “deep clean.”