Three wards of a North-East hospital have been hit by a stomach bug outbreak.

Last night, 46 people had been affected by the viral form of gastroenteritis at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Health bosses said visitors are being warned about the problem but they are not being stopped from entering the areas hit by sickness and diarrhoea - medical wards 9, 10 and 11.

The first case was confirmed at the beginning of March, and 22 staff and 24 patients have developed the infection since then as the infection control team tries to minimise it spreading.

Patients waiting to be discharged to other hospitals, or nursing and residential homes are not being allowed to leave, while staff who have come down with the symptoms have been told to stay off work until they are deemed 2non infectious."

Hopsital bosses, however, insist there is no cause for alarm and the virus is not life-threatening.

Infection control doctor John Hovenden said: "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 but the situation has improved and we are admitting patients onto the wards.

"However patients can incubate this virus for up to 72 hours so as a precautionary measure we aren't transferring them onto other wards or into residential and nursing homes until we're happy the patients aren't carrying the virus.

"This is a viral form of gastroenteritis which is also affecting the community at large. While we haven't stopped visitors coming onto the wards, posters have been put up advising them of the situation and staff will be on hand to offer assistance and advice."

There is no specific treatment for sickness and diarrhoea apart from drinking plenty of fluids, and most people will usually feel better within a couple of days.

Experts say viral gastroenteritis is spread by direct contact with someone who has the illness or by the airborne route -- similar to catching a cold. The single most effective measure in helping to prevent the virus from spreading is thorough hand-washing and drying.