Plea to avoid bug-hit hospitals

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Visitors are being urged to stay away from hospitals in Pontypridd and the Rhondda after a severe outbreak of a winter sickness bug.

More than 270 patients and staff at hospitals in the area have contracted the Norovirus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, in the last month.

The Pontypridd and Rhondda NHS Trust said the outbreak is putting pressure on resources, mainly at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.

But it said the situation is improving.

Adrian Jones, director of support services at the trust, said they hoped visitors would stay away as much as possible to avoid cross-contamination and help bring the bug under control.

He said the affected hospitals - including Dewi Sant in Pontypridd, Llwynypia, and Ysbyty George Thomas in Treorchy - have stepped up their cleaning.

'Unusual'

A number of bays surrounding the beds of patients with the bug have been closed to admissions.

"We have had 186 patients and 90 staff affected since the beginning of November," Mr Jones said.

"It is unusual. There are more cases than we have had previously [at this time of year]. It's putting a strain on resources that's for sure.

"We're asking people not to visit unless they really need to.

"This is not confined to hospital, it's a virus that is in the community. The community is equally bringing it in with the potential of cross-contamination."

Currently around 10 patients and staff are showing symptoms but Mr Jones said the outbreak appeared to be easing.

Norovirus is a major cause of infectious gastroenteritis and is most prevalent in autumn and winter.

The bug is easily spread in places where groups of people are in close proximity.