A ward at Dereham's community hospital has been temporarily closed to routine admissions and to visitors due to an outbreak of winter vomiting bug. Restrictions have been put in place on Foxley Ward in a bid to help combat the spread of the highly infectious bug called norovirus.

A ward at Dereham's community hospital has been temporarily closed to routine admissions and to visitors due to an outbreak of winter vomiting bug.

Restrictions have been put in place on Foxley Ward in a bid to help combat the spread of the highly infectious bug called norovirus.

No new patients will be admitted and existing patients will not be discharged to other health or care facilities until 72 hours after they last display symptoms, a spokesman for the NHS said.

Visitors will also not be allowed on to the wards while the outbreak is brought under control. These restrictions will be reviewed again on Monday, February 1.

Twenty-four patients in total have been affected on the ward over the past week. Only three remain active, and a further three have been exposed.

The hospital is managed by Norfolk Community Health and Care (NH&C).

Lead infection control nurse, Beth Kimber said that the norovirus stomach bug causes nausea and diarrhoea and is highly infectious.

'Cases of norovirus - otherwise known as the winter vomiting bug - have been seen in health and care settings right across the county in recent weeks and similar restrictions have needed to be put in place.

'Most people make a full recovery within one to two days, however some people, more usually the very young or elderly, can become very dehydrated and require further medical treatment,' she said.

For more information members of the public can the ward directly or NCH&C Patient Liaison Advice Service on 0800 587 4132.