Visits curtailed at hospital over norovirus bug

Visitor restrictions have been introduced at Sligo Regional Hospital because of an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug (norovirus).

This follows an similar move at the Mid-Western Hospital in Limerick.

There are eight suspected cases of the virus at Sligo Regional. A HSE spokeswoman said just two cases had been confirmed but six other patients were displaying symptoms.

She said that the situation at the Sligo hospital reflected the increased incidence of vomiting and diarrhoea in the wider community.

To help curtail the spread of the virus, the hospital appealed to the public to visit “only in essential or exceptional circumstances”, only immediate relatives should visit and only during the designated visiting times.

Children are not permitted to visit.

The HSE warned that without the co-operation of the public, the virus could spread very quickly throughout the hospital. Visitors have been asked to avoid canteens and any other food-dispensing areas and to wash their hands thoroughly.

The hospital is accepting patients for routine appointments and emergency care. The visiting restrictions are to remain in place “until the situation has been resolved”.

The HSE stressed that all appropriate infection control measures were being taken to deal with this situation.