TWENTY staff and patients on a ward at York District Hospital have been struck down by a stomach virus affecting schools and hospitals across the UK.

The strain of the virus, which causes vomiting, diarrhoea and fever for up to 48 hours, has not been identified.

But it is being treated as the Norwalk virus, which caused serious disruption to the hospital during an outbreak in 2000.

Fifteen elderly patients on Ward 25 have so far been diagnosed and are receiving special care. Five staff on the ward have also contracted the infection and been sent home.The first case was reported on Friday.

Updated: 14:29 Wednesday, January 23, 2002