TWO hospital wards have been closed on Teesside after an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea hit staff and patients.

About 50 patients and ten members of staff at the University Hospital of Hartlepool have been affected by the virus, which is spreading through schools and other organisations across the Tees Valley.

A hospital spokeswoman said: "We can confirm there has been an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting on a number of wards at the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

"The situation is becoming more stable and new cases are reducing among patients and staff. Currently, wards seven and 11 are closed to new admissions.

"When patients have symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, we close the wards to new admissions as a precaution and we do not transfer patients from ward to ward to stop the infection from spreading."

She said that whenever staff reported symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea, they were asked to stay at home until they had been clear of symptoms for 48 hours.

But she said people could help themselves and others to avoid catching the virus.

"Hand washing is just one of the ways people can help to prevent infections from spreading, so we ask those visiting friends and relatives to ensure they use the hand cleaning gel at the entrance to wards," she added.

"We know people like to visit their relatives and friends in hospital, but it's vital that people who've had diarrhoea or have been vomiting stay away until they have been free from symptoms for at least 48 hours."

Karen Lloyd, spokeswoman for the Health Protection Agency in the North-East, said the usual winter vomiting virus hitting people across the area was making its way into community establishments, including hospitals, schools and work places.

She said: "Diarrhoea and vomiting viruses are circulating in the area at the moment, as they always do at this time of year. They are spreading between people who live and work in very close proximity.

"It's coming from the community and going into these establishments, not the other way around."