Four Devon hospitals hit by winter illness norovirus
Visitors are being urged to stay away from four hospitals in Devon following an outbreak of norovirus.
The virus, which is more common in the winter and known as the winter vomiting bug, causes sickness and diarrhoea.
South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said Torbay Hospital as well as Paignton and Dawlish Community Hospitals had been affected
One ward at Newton Abbot Community Hospital has also been closed to new admissions.
The trust said specialist infection control and cleaning teams were trying to control the spread of the virus.
Natalie Illingworth, an infection control specialist nurse, said: "We know that people place great value on being able to visit loved ones in hospital but during periods when we are experiencing infection outbreaks in the community and in hospitals they can unknowingly be putting patients' health at real risk."
Visitors have been asked to stay away from infected hospitals and if unwell should stay away for at least 48 hours after the last symptom has passed.