Visitors are being urged to stay away if they have symptoms of the virus.

A second ward has been shut at Lister Hospital as suspected norovirus spreads.

The latest closure today (Monday), comes after the East and North Herts NHS Trust were forced to stop any new admissions to a ward on Thursday.

The highly infectious virus causes vomiting and diarrhoea in sufferers and visitors are being told to stay away if they feel unwell.

A trust spokesman said: “We would like to reiterate to the public just how important it is that people do not visit friends and loved ones when you are already ill yourself. If you need treatment please talk to your GP and don’t come to A&E risking exceptionally sick people also getting an infection.”

She added that the hospital is busy due to the icy conditions, but was coping, and outpatient appointments are running as normal.

An earlier suspected norovirus outbreak in December shut three wards at the Stevenage site.