A hospital in Co Kilkenny restricted admissions today after a suspected outbreak of the Winter Vomiting Bug.
The South Eastern Health Board said visitors and new patients attending St Columba's Hospital in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, had been limited after 13 suspected cases of the virus were reported.
The board appealed to the public to help contain the spread of the virus by restricting visits to the hospital unless it was an "exceptional" case.
A spokeswoman said infection-control measures had been put in place including the limited access. The hospital, which consists mainly of long-stay beds, respite beds and rehabilitation beds for the elderly, have asked all visitors to comply with any control measures.
Winter Vomiting Bug known as the Small Rounded Structured Viruses usually lasts two to three days but it is highly infectious, with symptoms including projectile vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
Elective surgery in some of the state's hospitals already had to be cancelled this year due to outbreaks of the virus.
PA
