FIVE wards at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital have been hit by an outbreak of a vomiting bug.

And hospital chiefs are urging would-be visitors to stay away.

The wards affected are Dinham — which specialises in breast and endocrine, or hormone, surgery; Mere — an upper gastrointestinal and thoracic surgery ward; Kenn — dedicated to patients with Parkinson's disease and older people; Abbey — for plastics and reconstructive surgery; and Harbourne — a general ward with a particular speciality in diabetes and endocrine disorders.

The RD&E confirmed that the bug affecting the wards was not the norovirus, which caused the hospital to postpone operations in January.

The hospital is also appealing for people with the symptoms to stay away rather than risk passing it on to patients who are already unwell.

"At the moment people are discouraged from visiting these affected wards," she said.

"We would also like to remind people not to come in to the hospital at all if they have had any symptoms of diarrhoea and or vomiting, or been in contact with someone with symptoms.

"They will need to have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours before visiting."

In the summer the RD&E carried out a thorough deep-clean to help control the spread of diarrhoea and vomiting bugs brought in over the winter. Using new technology, all fixtures, fittings, furnishings and equipment were cleaned and replaced where necessary.

The hospital confirmed that the cause of the outbreak was not inadequate cleaning but said patients should be reassured that a repeat clean would be carried out in each ward affected by the outbreak.

Judy Potter, joint director of infection prevention and control, told the Echo: "Patients have a right to expect the hospital environment to be clean and well maintained. This is important for patient comfort and from an infection control perspective.

"Many micro-organisms, capable of causing health care associated infection, survive in the environment but risk can be reduced by high standards of cleaning day-to-day in patient care areas.

"However, in the same way as some people spring clean their homes, hospital wards also need periodic deep cleaning.

"This is a considerable undertaking for our housekeeping, estates and nursing services but it is worthwhile to maintain the high standards we and our patients expect and want at the RD&E."