Four wards are reported to have closed to new admissions at Southampton General Hospital because of a vomiting bug. The norovirus stomach bug causes vomiting and diarrhea and is revealed to spreads from person to person very easily.

She said, "We are now into the third week of being closed to visitors. If there are exceptional circumstances, then the ward sister can look at the situation," quoted Jo Triggs, spokeswoman for the hospital".

The hospital revealed that tests were being initiated to determine whether it was the Norovirus bug.

Staff has asked people to stay away from the hospital if they have suffered from diarrhea or vomiting in the past 72 hours.

In addition, the hospital has also advised visitors to properly wash their hands before and after visits with the gels available.

Judy Gillow, Director of Nursing, said, "This time of year generally tends to bring a rise in cases of viral bugs".

It is advised that even after the symptoms of the bug have cleared up, people may still possess the virus and infect others up to three days after their own symptoms have stopped.