A medical ward has been shut at the hospital

A specialist has been called in to analyse samples from patients following the outbreak of a mystery bug at Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

The disease was thought to be gastroenteritis, but is now thought to be a strain of the Norwalk virus.

Hospital officials said that, despite the closure of the Arnold ward where the outbreak was discovered, operational procedures were continuing as normal.

Doctor David Jeffs, chairman of the island's Infection Control Committee, said a number of patients and staff had suffered 24 hours of nausea, followed by 24 hours of diarrhoea.

He hoped the measures being taken would bring the outbreak to an early end.

The director of Health Studies and Nursing Services at the hospital, Tina Poxon, said shutting the ward was a necessary precaution.