THE Great Western Hospital in Swindon, is still partially closed following the outbreak of a virulent winter diarrhoea and vomiting bug.

The virus, similar to the notorious Norwalk virus, which affected Scottish hospitals a year ago was brought into the hospital from the community about two weeks ago and since then 77 patients and 36 staff have been affected.

Three wards within the Great Western hospital are expected to remain closed until the end of the week, including the Saturn and Neptune medical wards and the Kingfisher trauma ward.

Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, which runs the hospital's acute wards, is also managing outbreaks of the bug in Orchard, Whitbourne and Langton houses, which are nursing homes and rehabilitation units forming part of the separate GP-led trust.

Wards were still under strict isolation yesterday in a bid to stop the virus from spreading, but Ruth Lockwood, senior nurse in Infection Control said the situation had stabilised.

Ms Lockwood said: "We have set up stringent infection control procedures in line with, and beyond, national guidelines.

"For example we are giving staff who move around the hospital portable bottles of alcohol gel called tottles, which they fasten to their belts and use to keep their hands clean at all times.

"The gel is also available outside and on every ward for staff and visitors.

"We are also not admitting new patients to infected areas and we are not transferring patients who are affected until it is safe to do so.

"Staff with the virus are staying off work until they are completely clear."

Ms Lockwood said nothing could be done to prevent the virus being brought into the hospital.

"It is out there in the community and as it has an incubation period of about 24 hours. People can be infected without knowing it," she said.

Scottish hospitals suffered an outbreak of the Norwalk virus in January 2002.

There is no treatment for the virus and patients are advised to take lots of liquids and wait for the illness to pass.

Most people are affected for 24 to 60 hours and contagious for 48 hours, and fatigue can be an after effect.

As long are there are no new outbreaks of the bug, two of the acute wards are earmarked to be opened on Friday,and the third should open on on Saturday.