Vomiting bug sufferers urged to stay away from hospitals

The Eastern Regional Health Authority has asked people suffering from the winter vomiting virus to stay away from hospitals and contact their GP instead.

Dublin hospitals were forced to close more than 10 wards to new admissions and to cancel major surgery in the past week due to an outbreak of the illness.

St Vincent’s Hospital was worst affected, but the virus also caused problems in St James’ and Beaumont Hospitals.

The ERHA said most cases of the winter vomiting bug could be treated adequately by GPs, and people presenting themselves to hospitals were only putting other patients and staff at risk of contracting the illness.