Stay-away plea in virus fight

Anyone with vomiting, sickness or diarrhoea is being urged to stay away from the Royal Oldham Hospital as health bosses battle to keep the end-of-year norovirus outbreak at bay.

The “winter vomiting bug” is sweeping the country and the Royal Oldham’s nurses and infection-control teams are on alert to stop it spreading.

A spokesman said: “Patients and visitors, particularly older people and parents with infants and children, are being advised to stay at home, drink plenty of fluids, contact NHS Direct and avoid coming to hospital if they are suffering from vomiting, sickness and diarrhoea.”

Several wards have been hit in recent weeks and two are still affected, as are residents and staff in a couple of Oldham care homes.

Symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Some also have a raised temperature, headache and stomach cramps. The illness usually resolves in one or two days with no long-term effects.





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