The Western Health Trust authorities have released guidelines to visitors about hygiene and urged the natives to not visit the hospital because of increased cases of vomiting and diarrhea among patients. Further, the guidelines direct visitors to wash their hands before and after visiting.

“The main symptoms of the norovirus infection are sudden nausea, stomach ache followed by severe ‘projectile’ vomiting and/or diarrhea”, said Spokesman of the Trust. “Those who are visiting are asked to thoroughly wash their hands before and after visiting. Visitors should visit only one patient whilst at the hospital, refrain from sitting on hospital beds and not move among patients and from ward to ward when visiting”.

Further, the outbreak of the vomiting bug, Norovirus or winter vomiting virus, has also pushed the hospital authorities to close ward 42 at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry for any new admission. The deadly bug causes both diarrhea and vomiting along with warning signs of sudden nausea and stomach ache. The infected person is likely to develop the symptoms between 12 and 48 hours after any contraction with the bug.

The Infection Prevention and Control team of the trust is struggling hard to curb the infection and continue to increase awareness about the unpleasant illness.