TWO more wards have reopened at York Hospital as health staff continue to fight the return of a crippling winter bug.

The highly-contagious norovirus reappeared at the Wigginton Road site over the weekend and led to managers closing seven wards to new admissions.

But that number was cut to five yesterday, and a spokeswoman for York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed today that just three wards are now completely closed, with some individual bays in three other ward areas also being shut off as infection control procedures are put into place.

However, visitors are still being urged to play their part in combating norovirus, which causes violent bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea and has affected the hospital's operation for longer than expected during each of the previous two years. The trust's managers have said the latest problems were due to the illness being brought in from outside.

People showing signs or symptoms of the bug, such as mild fever, headaches, stomach cramps and aching limbs, should not visit the hospital until they have been clear of these for at least 48 hours, and they are also advised to keep their hands clean and not to bring children into the hospital wherever possible.

They can also call the hospital before their visit to find out if a particular ward is closed and, if an area has been struck by norovirus, to appreciate that visits will not be allowed except in special circumstances.