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Tuesday, 17 September, 2002, 15:38 GMT 16:38 UK
Hospital bug 'contained'
Virus
Symptoms take up to 48 hours to develop
Officials are hoping the outbreak of a contagious virus at two Somerset hospitals has been contained.

More than 100 people were ill after the outbreak of the Norwalk virus at the Yeovil District Hospital.

A spokesman for the Yeovil hospital said 65 patients and 40 members of staff had been affected.

However, on Tuesday, only 19 patients were still suffering symptoms of the illness.


We will be reviewing the situation on a day by day basis

Yeovil District Hospital spokesman

No members of staff were showing signs of infection.

The symptoms of the virus - usually sickness and diarrhoea - take 12 to 48 hours to develop and last for about two days.

The virus had also spread to Verrington Community Hospital in Wincanton where seven patients and two members of staff had been infected.

The hospital in Yeovil has five wards closed and routine operations have been cancelled.

But it is still treating emergency admissions.

"We are hoping the infection has been contained," the spokesman said.

"We will be reviewing the situation on a day by day basis."

See also:

17 Sep 02 | England
13 Sep 02 | England
13 Aug 02 | England
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