DOCTORS are warning people to be on the lookout for symptoms of norovirus this winter.

Norovirus, also known as the ‘winter vomiting disease', often starts to appear in the autumn peaking during January.

Norovirus is highly contagious and the most frequent cause of infectious gastroenteritis in England and Wales.

Typical symptoms are vomiting and diarrhoea and it usually clears up by itself in a few days.

Dr Preeti Shukla GP clinical lead at Blackburn and East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: “Good hygiene is particularly important in preventing yourself or others from becoming infected."

People who have been sick or had diarrhoea in the last 48 hours have also been warned to drink plenty of fluids and wash their hands regularly with soap and water.

This is especially the case after going to the toilet and prior to preparing food and eating it.

It comes after Ward C9, at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, had to be closed to new admissions after a patient was diagnosed with the norovirus on New Year's Day.