TWO wards at the Great Western Hospital which were closed to new patients as a result of a Norwalk-type virus have been re-opened.

But an outbreak of a new, as yet unidentified, bug causing similar symptoms has meant that staff have been forced to close a further ward.

When the Norwalk-type virus, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, began to affect patients and staff at the beginning of last week, stringent infection control measures were brought into place.

The aim was to stem the spread of the virus throughout the hospital building.

Two medical wards were closed to new patients. Anyone venturing into the area was asked to disinfect their hands.

At the peak of the virus last week, more than 100 staff and patients were suffering symptoms. However, the pressure had eased by the end of the week.

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust's on-call manager, Sarah Britton, said: "We are pleased to say we are able to open the wards, although we have just heard that another outbreak of a different virus has been identified in another ward, Saturn.

"We are imposing strict infection control to try to ensure it does not spread."