FOUR wards at Poole Hospital have been closed to new admissions following the latest outbreak of the norovirus stomach bug.

Three surgical wards and one elderly care ward are involved in the outbreak, which comes just days after the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust declared its own outbreak over.

The situation at Poole is being closely monitored by the hospital's infection control team and ward closures will be reviewed on a daily basis.

The foundation trust is asking family and friends of patients in the hospital not to visit if they have had any symptoms in the previous 48 hours.

Visitors and staff are also being reminded to use the alcohol hand cleansing gel provided at the entrance to all wards and at the end of patients' beds.

The advice has been given to try and prevent any further spread of the infection, which causes sudden onset sickness and/or diarrhoea. Although unpleasant, the bug tends to be short-lived and sufferers are recommended to stay away from other people until 48 hours after symptoms have passed.

Norovirus has become common within the community in recent years and tends to occur more often in winter, especially in places where people are gathered indoors. It is spread by airborne droplets, which can also contaminate surfaces.