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It is everywhere...

http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/news/localnews/pdenews/pdenews/tm_objectid=14102285&method=full&siteid=63858&headline=wards-shut-as-virus-spreads-name_page.html

WARDS SHUT AS VIRUS SPREADS Mar 31 2004

THREE wards at the Royal Alexandra Hospital have now been closed down as the outbreak of a stomach bug spreads.

The move came after the number of patients affected by a winter vomiting virus rose dramatically over the weekend.

On Friday just 36 patients and three members of staff at the Paisley hospital had contracted the infection. But yesterday hospital bosses confirmed 62 patients and three workers had the bug.

No new admissions will be accepted to wards three, four and seven until the virus can be brought under control.

A total of five wards at the RAH are now affected by the virus which has left patients and staff suffering from sickness and diarrhoea.

As well as affecting people in the three wards that have been closed, patients in wards five and 12 - both of which are also wards caring for the elderly - have also been struck down.

No one is thought to be critically ill as a result of the condition - which usually affects people for two or three days.

A special control of infection team at the hospital is monitoring the situation on a daily basis.

And they've also put in place a series of measures to try to stop the disease from spreading even further

Members of the public who have also been suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea within the last seven days are being urged to stay away from the hospital and not visit family or friends there.

In addition, hospital bosses are also recommending children under the age of 12 don't visit relatives in the affected wards and that only two people visit each patient.

Bosses at the RAH say the wards that have been shut will only be open up again once they are clear of infection - which is 48 hours after the last affected patient stops showing symptoms.

The RAH is the second hospital in Paisley to be affected by an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea, as staff and patients at Dykebar have also been ill. So far a total of 14 patients and workers have contracted the bug.