KEY POINTS:
Four wards at Christchurch's Princess Margaret Hospital have been closed as health authorities deal with another outbreak of the highly infectious norovirus.
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is urging anyone with symptoms of vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea to phone their general practice for medical advice rather than turn up to Christchurch Hospital's emergency department.
Seven patients have been isolated in two wards at Princess Margaret Hospital, with two other wards closed, in a bid to contain norovirus.
Eight patients at Christchurch Hospital have been diagnosed with norovirus, with one ward closed and another reserved only for patients with vomiting and diarrhoea.
Seven patients have norovirus symptoms at Burwood Hospital, but no wards there have been closed.
Wards at the Princess Margaret and Christchurch hospital were closed earlier this year in a similar outbreak of the gut-wrenching virus that is spread through contaminated food and eating surfaces, and through contact with infected people.
CDHB spokeswoman Michele Hider said visitors were being urged to stay away from hospitals if they'd had diarrhoea or vomiting in the previous 48 hours or been in contact with people who had those symptoms.
"People should think carefully about whether they need to visit friends and relatives in hospital at this time," she told NZPA.
People were urged to phone their general practice or doctor for medical advice.
Most stomach bugs were easily spread to other people and could be managed at home and if people were feeling unwell, their health professional would know if they needed to go to hospital, she said.
- NZPA
