Despite fears staff and patients at the Erne Hospital may have been hit by the highly contagious vomiting bug which is rife across Northern Ireland at the moment, this is no longer believed to be the case.

A spokesperson for the Western Area Trust explained late last week there were reports that one patient and two staff members in the Enniskillen hospital had been affected by the bug; however, after examination, all three were cleared of having the illness.

Similarly, one suspected case in the Tyrone County was also discounted. The spokesperson explained the only hospital in the Western Board to have been affected so far is the Waterside in Derry.

Despite this, the public are being urged to be vigilant about the 'Winter vomiting disease' especially as children return to school this week.

Also called the Norovirus, it lives in the gut and is typically passed on by poor hygiene, such as not washing hands properly after using the bathroom. It can also be spread when someone vomits and small particles containing the virus enters the air.

The virus is able to survive in the environment for many days, and outbreaks tend to affect more than 50% of susceptible people.

There is no treatment for the virus, so the expert advise for those affected is to stay at home for 48 hours after symptoms have gone away to avoid further spread of the virus; to be sure to drink plenty of fluids and take Paracetamol; and to be sure to stay away from the GP surgery unless the person affect is young, old or infirm.