HOSPITALS in East Lancashire believe they have overcome the winter vomiting bug norovirus, with no new cases in the past three weeks.

Health chiefs have thanked patients, visitors, GPs and carers for helping them control the virus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Royal Blackburn Hospital, Burnley General Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital all had patients with the virus.

But East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said strict isolation procedures had prevented the infection from spreading.

Five wards at Blackburn had to be closed at different periods throughout December and early January.

Ward 12 at Burnley was the first affected and was partially shut for nine days in December, while affected bays in Hartley Ward and Reedyford Ward at Pendle Community Hospital had to close for four days and seven days respectively.

In total, 93 patients and 27 staff members suffered diarrhoea and vomiting.

Staff were given regular information and advice, while an infection prev-ention and control team worked closely with GPs and care homes to delay admitting patients who had diarrhoea and vomiting.

Isolation facilities were prepared for critically-ill patients whose admissions could not be delayed.

But Prof Sajjad Mirza, deputy director of infection prevention and control, warned: “The norovirus season is not over yet and we must remain vigilant.

"Many hospitals throughout the UK are still reporting ward closures.

“East Lancashire’s hospitals have seen more cases of diarrhoea and vomiting than in previous years, so despite the severe weather in December, it was vital that we kept our strict isolation procedures going.

“Patients and visitors have been very understanding and we would ask visitors to continue to act responsibly, avoiding coming to hospital until 48 hours after any vomiting or diarrhoea symptoms have cleared up.”