HOSPITAL bosses are waging a war against a highly contagious sickness and diarrhoea bug that is refusing to leave wards.

The norovirus bug first struck at Southampton General Hospital last month and scores of patients and staff have been struck down.

Five wards are now closed to new admissions and 31 patients have caught the norovirus. A total of 17 staff are also affected.

Doctors are today renewing pleas for visitors not to enter the hospital campus if they have suffered from vomiting or diarrhoea in the past 72 hours, or if they have been in close contact with someone who has been unwell.

Elderly people and young children are discouraged from visiting altogether.

Anyone who does enter the hospital should take extra care to clean their hands using the alcohol gel provided.

Judy Gillow, director of nursing, said: "We take infection control extremely seriously and have staff working around the clock to contain this outbreak.

"Although it is impossible to prevent norovirus infection, we are doing everything possible to manage it by isolating infected patients, thoroughly cleaning contaminated areas and promoting scrupulous hygiene measures."

Posters to highlight the problem have been put on display and the infection control team has been hard at work advising staff on how to cope with the outbreak.

Four wards were shut at the General to try to contain a norovirus outbreak in April. There was also an outbreak of the bug at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital last month.

Norovirus is very easily transmitted from person to person. The symptoms of nausea, followed by vomiting and diarrhoea, begin 12 to 48 hours after infection and normally last for between 12 and 60 hours.

Some people also suffer a raised temperature, headaches and aching limbs.

The virus is not life threatening, but very young or elderly people may become dehydrated and require hospital treatment.

There is no cure or treatment but the advice is to drink plenty of fluids.