FOUR wards have been closed at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital amid fears of a Norovirus outbreak.

Wards two, five, 25 and 26 were shut at the weekend in a bid to stop any further spread of a sickness and diarrhoea bug.

Last night a hospital spokeswoman told the Daily Echo: “We are still awaiting confirmation of the cause of the outbreak and won’t be able to say, for sure, until the results of specimen tests come back. I believe there is an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting in the community. It is too early to say when these wards will be re-opening but we are advising visitors to stay away, unless their visit is absolutely necessary. The best advice is to ring the ward concerned in advance to check the up-to-date situation.”

Avonbourne elderly care ward at Poole hospital was closed to new admissions yesterday (Mon) but still open. One elderly care ward at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester was shut yesterday. A spokeswoman said: “We are looking at the symptoms and all the options.”

Members of the public should not to visit friends or relatives in hospital if they have had sickness or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours.

Those who do come into infected hospitals are asked to use the hand gel provided on entering and leaving. Although unpleasant, Norovirus is not serious and tends to be short-lived.

Because the bug is so easily caught, sufferers should avoid contact with other people until 48 hours after symptoms have passed.