HEALTH chiefs are taking precautions to limit an outbreak of a diarrhoea and vomiting bug that has this week closed three wards to new admissions at Musgrove Park Hospital, in Taunton.

One of the wards re-opened this morning and a hospital spokeswoman said everything was being done to limit the spread of the contagious norovirus outbreak.

She added: “As soon as norovirus was suspected, the wards were closed to new admissions and transfers were stopped to help reduce the risk of it spreading.

“Staff members permanently based on wards with infected patients are not allowed to work on other wards.

“Infected wards will not be re-opened until there has been no patient with symptoms for 72 hours.

“Before re-opening to new admissions, the wards and all equipment will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.”

Members of the public who have had symptoms or been in contact with someone else who has should not visit patients at Musgrove.

And visitors are being asked to wash or gel their hands thoroughly before entering and when they leave the ward.