A NASTY winter vomiting bug is affecting Basingstoke hospital and visitors are being warned to stay away if they are experiencing any symptoms.

From tomorrow onwards visiting hours across the main hospital wards, apart from the Sherborne Building, will be reduced to one hour a day between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, in a move to curb the highly contagious norovirus.

Symptoms of norovirus include nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting.

The virus tends to last between one and two days, but remains infectious 48-hours after symptoms have stopped and can be easily passed from person-to-person.

The hospital is strongly advising that children do not visit the hospital and is asking adults not to visit if they are experiencing any symptoms themselves.

Visitors must be completely clear of any symptoms for at least 48 hours before visiting the hospital.

There have been 46 outbreaks of suspected norovirus in hospitals nationwide over the past two weeks.