FIVE wards at a hospital and a luxury Co Cavan hotel have been forced to close following an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.
A total of four wards at Altnagelvin Hospital and one ward at the city's Waterside Hospital as well as the Slieve Russell Hotel have all been affected by the norovirus bug.
Both staff and patients have been affected.
The Western Trust said admissions to the hospital's surgery, care of the elderly and urology wards had been temporarily suspended, while a number of others are being "closely monitored".
The hospital also has control measures are in place to stop the virus spreading and people are asked not to go to the hospital unless necessary "in particular if they are feeling unwell, have any symptoms of norovirus or someone at home does".
In a statement, the trust said: "Increased infection control measures have been put in place such as isolation of symptomatic patients and appropriate use of contact precautions and appropriate use of personal protective clothing, increased and enhanced cleaning and limiting the movement of staff between wards unless absolutely necessary".
SDLP health spokesman and Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has expressed his concern about the outbreak.
“This outbreak will certainly cause alarm among the public but the Western Trust has acted quickly and decisively to get this situation under control," he said.
“Understandably people suffering from the virus may have felt the need to seek medical help and it is believed that this is what has caused the spread in Altnagelvin.
"However, the disease is not dangerous to most people and by visiting medical centres they are putting older people and those already being treated for different conditions at risk of infection.
“To prevent the spread of the virus, it is vital that people familiarise themselves with the symptoms. If anyone is displaying signs of the norovirus they should stay clear of medical centres unless they require serious medical attention.”
Meanwhile, the leading four-star Slieve Russell Hotel was forced to close on Monday following an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug amongst residents, staff and customers.
The hotel is currently undergoing a full deep-clean and disinfection after health officials and hotel management said the action was necessary to safeguard public health.
It is not known if the hotel will open again to the public ahead of Christmas.
In a statement on Tuesday night, the Republic's Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed that the Slieve Russell had shut its doors "due to an increased incidence of norovirus infection among residents, staff and patrons of the hotel".
The hotel, which was once owned by Sean Quinn’s family, had notified HSE staff on December 12 that there had been a number of people suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea illness at the hotel.
HSE staff met with hotel management on Monday and agreed that additional measures including a full deep-clean of all surfaces and furnishings in the leading hotel would be required.
"In order to achieve this, the hotel has closed," it said.
"It will re-open as soon as all possible environmental sources of the virus have been disinfected.
"The HSE and hotel management deeply regret the inconvenience this closure will cause to patrons of the Slieve Russell but consider this action as necessary to safeguard public health."
The health authority added: "There is presently a high incidence of this infection in the community in Ireland and outbreaks have been noted in hospitals, residential care homes and schools throughout the country".
