The Cumberland Infirmary is continuing to fight an outbreak of norovirus as it warns people with symptoms to keep away.

The Carlisle hospital has had outbreaks of norovirus throughout January because visitors and patients, who have been in contact with sufferers, keep coming to the hospital.

Known as the winter sickness bug, norovirus causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea and is highly infectious.

It can spread extremely quickly in environments such as hospitals and its impact can be serious.

North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is again urging visitors to avoid going to see friends and family if they are unwell themselves or have shown symptoms within the last 48 hours.

The trust has also asked anyone admitted to hospital to tell nursing staff if they have been in contact with someone with norovirus.

It has also asked people not to go to A&E if they need treatment for norovirus.

Clive Graham, director of infection prevention and control at the trust, said: “There are things that people can do to limit the impact so we are reminding people of the measures that may protect our healthcare services from the worst effects of norovirus infection.”