TWO wards at Wrexham Maelor hospital remain affected by the diarrhoea and vomiting bug norovirus.

The hospital reported an improvement yesterday in the numbers affected by the bug, which strikes in the winter.

“At the moment seven patients are showing symptoms across the two wards,” said hospital spokesman Andy Scotson.

In one ward, two rooms have been taken out of use and the other ward has been closed totally to new admissions in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

It means six beds are out of action across the two wards. Wards on average have about 28 beds each. Only one member of staff appears to have caught the virus.

From the time the bug first struck on October 22, the hospital had 32 cases. Although the hospital appears to have contained the virus, with the onset of winter the Trust expects it to be an on-going problem.

Patients who are affected are having their movements around the hospital restricted to prevent spreading.

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan have recorded no cases in the last few weeks, although earlier one ward was partially closed for four days and 12 patients were affected.

There are no cases reported at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor. Noroviruses are part of a group of viruses that are the most common cause of stomach bugs in the UK.

Although regarded as the winter vomiting disease because people tend to get the bugs during the winter months, Noroviruses can happen at any time of the year.