A CONTAGIOUS vomiting and diarrhoea bug shut down a bay-ward at Sidmouth Victoria Hospital for 48-hours this week.
A CONTAGIOUS vomiting and diarrhoea bug shut down a bay-ward at Sidmouth Victoria Hospital for 48-hours this week.
An outbreak of the airborne Norovirus, the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis, led to the closure. The bay has since been cleaned and re-opened.
Jane Barr, Devon Primary Care Trust's infection prevention and control manager, told the Herald:
"One bay was closed at Sidmouth Victoria Hospital for about 48 hours due to a small outbreak of Norovirus.
"There were no new reports of Norovirus thanks to the stringent measures we put in place and inpatients are now being readmitted.
"Norovirus causes vomiting and diarrhoea and although unpleasant, is not considered a major health risk.
"It is an airborne virus which is found in the community and is brought into hospitals and we would encourage visitors not to go to visit any of our hospitals if they have experienced any symptoms within the last 72 hours."
Several wards at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital have been hit by the infection in the past few weeks.
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