Bug hits more staff at hospital

More staff at Hawke's Bay Hospital have come down with a stomach bug, after an outbreak shut a ward.

The Assessment Treatment and Rehabilitation (AT&R;) Ward at the Omahu Rd, Hastings hospital was closed on Friday after 13 staff and patients fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms.

A Hawke's Bay District Health Board spokeswoman said more staff had come down with the illness over the weekend.

The 32-bed AT&R; Ward was completely closed to visitors as stringent hygiene measures were put in place throughout the hospital to contain the outbreak.

The situation would be reviewed again today, said the spokeswoman.

Stomach bugs were common at this time of year, but the size of this outbreak was unusual, she said.