RESTRICTIONS are still in place at Whipps Cross Hospital after 44 confirmed cases of the winter vomiting bug.

The hospital confirmed an outbreak of the norovirus bug on Friday.

The hospital trust is restricting visiting hours on some wards and permitting only one visitor per patient at any one time.

Children are not allowed to visit wards without permission from the ward manager.

Primary care trust NHS Waltham Forest has urged anyone suffering from the bug to stay at home and avoid public places.

Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, is highly contagious and dangerous for vulnerable people.

Symptoms can last for between 12 and 60 hours.

The hospital closed almost entirely when an outbreak of norovirus hit last January.

Emergency cases and operations were diverted to other hospitals and 19 wards were closed in a bid to contain the bug.

Visitors are asked to contact the relevant ward before travelling to the hospital by calling 020 8539 5522.

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