Thirty hospital patients and staff have fallen victim to an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea which has left four wards closed to new admissions.

The stomach bug which led to the closure of a ward at the James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, to new admissions last week has been found in a second hospital in the town.

As a result four wards between James Cook and Middlesbrough General are closed to new admissions to minimise the risk of the virus spreading further.

The South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust infection control team is closely monitoring wards 11 (medicine) and five (vascular surgery) at The James Cook University Hospital and wards 37 (elderly care) and 46 (burns and plastics) at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

Originally, 13 people were affected at the James Cook University Hospital, but now the total for the two hospitals has risen to 30.

The Trust say the bug was not taken from one hospital to another and insist they are not treating an epidemic.

Currently 30 staff and patients are affected and to minimise the risk of the virus spreading, no new patients will be admitted onto the four wards. Patients hit by the bug are being kept on the wards and ill staff have been sent home and told not to return until all symptoms have gone.

Patients waiting to be discharged to other hospitals, nursing and residential homes will also stay on the wards and visitors are being advised of the situation.

Medical director Paul Lawler said: "A very small number of operations may have to be cancelled but patients who need urgent surgery will continue to be seen. Each patient will be looked at on the basis of individual clinical need.

"We are working closely with the public health team and reviewing this on a daily basis. Staff are meticulously following all the infection control guidance to minimise the risk of any further spread.''

He added: "This is a viral form of gastroenteritis which is also affecting the community at large. Several residential and nursing homes, plus ordinary households, have been affected in recent weeks.

"This particular variety of sickness and diarrhoea tends to be spread by the airborne route - similar to catching cold if you like - and through poor hand hygiene.''