Two hospital wards in the Midlands have been closed due to a suspected outbreak of the winter sickness bug norovirus, bosses have revealed today.

The D25 ward at City Hospital in Birmingham, which treats female patients with various surgical problems, remained closed today after six patients were struck down with diarrhoea and vomiting.

A ward treating stroke patients at Walsall Manor Hospital was also closed today due to the bug. So far there has been one confirmed case and five patients showing symptoms on ward one.

Patient admissions, transfers and visits from friends and relatives have been stopped to both wards.

Amir Khan, medical director at Walsall Manor, warned that the bug was “very easily spread”.

“The virus lasts around two days and the only treatment required is plenty of fluid,” he said.

However, he said people could potentially still infect others up to three days after symptoms had cleared.

The ward closures come as the NHS confirmed more people than ever had picked up life-threatening infections while in hospitals last year, including norovirus, E.coli, MRSA and Clostridium difficile included in the figures.