PEOPLE in the North-East with symptoms of norovirus - known as the winter vomiting bug - are being urged not to visit family and friends in hospitals and care homes.

The appeal follows new figures from Public Health England which reveal 18 outbreaks of suspected or confirmed norovirus in hospitals were reported across the country in October 2014, 17 of which led to ward or bay closures.

The latest annual data - which covers the period July 2013 to June 2014 - show a total of 610 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks reported in hospitals nationally of which 571 (94 per cent) led to ward closures.

In the North-East there were 60 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks and 50 led to closures of wards or bays.

Closing a ward or bay is necessary to help stop transmission of this highly contagious virus around the hospital.

Dr Deb Wilson, a consultant in health protection at Public Health England’s North East Centre, said: “Norovirus - also known as the winter vomiting bug - causes a very unpleasant but generally short-lived illness from which healthy people usually recover without treatment.

“But it can cause more serious illness in the very young, elderly people and those with chronic illnesses.

“Norovirus is highly infectious and can spread rapidly in communities such as hospitals, care homes, sheltered housing accommodation and schools.

“That’s why it is so important that people stay away from these places until they have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

“Please don’t visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes until you have fully recovered and have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours as there is a real risk that you would introduce the infection into these communities putting vulnerable people at risk.’