A fifth ward at Ninewells Hospital has been closed to new admissions after an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.
NHS Tayside confirmed that ward two has been shut. It is the fifth to be affected by the illness also known as norovirus in the past week, although one of the others has now reopened.
Staff at the hospital are said to be working ”flat out” to cope with the illness, although chief executive Gerry Marr has said that plans put in place to deal with additional demands on services have been working well.
Wards three, five and six are also closed to new admissions, but ward 14 is accepting patients again after it closed on Tuesday.
Patients affected by norovirus suffer vomiting and diarrhoea and there have been several people affected in ward two.
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said all the closures were a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of the virus. She added that all appropriate infection control measures have been put in place.
Dr Gabby Phillips, lead infection control doctor, said: ”As is the case in the community, our hospitals also see an increase in the number of people with winter vomiting virus over the winter months. We are now seeing that seasonal increase in people suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea at Ninewells and it looks likely to last several days.
”That is why we’re asking all visitors to think carefully about visiting their relatives and friends while this virus is circulating. You can really help us and our patients by not visiting if you yourself are feeling unwell and have vomiting and diarrhoea.
”If you are visiting relatives or friends in the identified wards, please make sure you wash your hands thoroughly before going into the ward area and again when you leave.
”Good hand hygiene and making sure you don’t touch any clinical equipment are simple but sensible precautions.
”We would also ask anyone visiting relatives in identified wards to try to make sure there are only two visitors at a patient’s bedside at any one time.
”There are already posters at the entrances to all the wards identified to remind visitors of the simple steps they can take to help us and we will also be putting up reminders at the front door of the hospital.
”We would like to thank visitors and public for their ongoing support and cooperation.”
Norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK. Although it is highly contagious it is not usually dangerous and most people recover after a couple of days.