For the second time in as many days Ninewells Hospital has closed one of its wards to new admissions after several cases of vomiting and diarrhoea.
The outbreak took hold in ward 14, where patients with heart complaints are treated. It is believed to have been caused by the norovirus, better known as the winter vomiting bug.
NHS Tayside said it had closed the ward to new patients as a precaution and that all appropriate infection control measures had been put in place.
The move followed the health board’s decision on Monday to halt new admissions to ward 6 after another suspected outbreak of the virus.
Lead infection control doctor for NHS Tayside Dr Gabby Phillips said: ”As is the case in the community, our hospitals also see an increase in the number of people with winter vomiting bug, or norovirus, over the winter months.
”Unfortunately, we know from previous winter months that this will tend to happen, as it is a bug which is seen very commonly in the community.
”We have seen relatively little norovirus activity in the hospital compared to previous years at this time of year.
”To help try to reduce the spread of this virus into our hospitals, we ask people to avoid visiting friends and families if they are feeling unwell and have vomiting and diarrhoea. We advise that they should stay at home until they have had no symptoms for 48 hours.
”We would also ask anyone visiting relatives in affected wards to try to make sure there are only two visitors at a patient’s bedside at any one time. Visitors should also ensure they wash their hands when they enter and leave the ward area.”