HEALTH chiefs are once again appealing to the public for help in containing cases of a virulent tummy bug that has led to wards being closed at local hospitals.

As of yesterday, wards 5 and 28 at the Royal Bournemouth and G2 at Christchurch Hospital were shut to new admissions and visitors because of norovirus.

Ward 4 at RBH was due to reopen yesterday. Only next of kin are allow-ed to visit patients on all other wards.

Both Poole and the Dorset County Hospitals have imposed ward closures and visiting restrictions in recent weeks, although both are currently free of the illness.

People are asked to stay away from all local hospitals and care homes if they have had any diarrhoea or vomiting in the previous 48 hours.

Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency show a sharp national rise in norovirus during January. Nearly 1,500 cases were confirmed, compared to just over 1,000 in the same month last year.

Sarah Elliott, director of patient safety and quality at NHS Bournemouth and Poole, said there had been a small number of noro-virus cases in care homes recently. The trust employs a nurse who goes into care homes to provide infection control training.

“It’s characteristic of norovirus that it tends to occur in places where you have people in close proximity,” she said. “It’s not always exactly the same virus and presentation is sometimes a little bit different from year to year.

“We have to accept that we can’t prevent norovirus completely. The main message to give to the public is to follow very good hand hygiene.

“Disinfect any affected areas, use your own towels, clean hard surfaces with a bleach solution, don’t handle any food, and make sure you are taking in enough fluids.”