Visiting restrictions have been put in place at the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore due to a rise in the number of people presenting with respiratory viral illnesses.
The HSE said the winter vomiting bug appears to be circulating in the community, with a “recent increase in NVR”.
Patients are also unwell with other respiratory viral illness, such as influenza.
The HSE said the visiting restrictions have been put in place as a precaution.
It said that the measures will be kept under regular review and that compassionate and critical visits in exceptional circumstances only “will be accommodated by contacting the Clinical Nurse Manager or Nurse in Charge of the relevant ward”.
“We have implemented significant visiting restrictions in all areas to help keep our patients and staff safe from respiratory viral illnesses, such as Influenza, Covid, RSV and Norovirus (Winter Vomiting bug) which are all currently circulating in the community,” said Louisea Burke, General Manager at the hospital.
“We kindly remind the public to only visit the hospital if you are symptom-free from flu or other respiratory illnesses. Please refer to the HSE website for specific information and regular updates.”
Meanwhile, Mayo University Hospital has appealed for anyone with flu-like symptoms not to visit the hospital.
The HSE has said that anyone with respiratory symptoms or gastrointestinal symptoms should postpone a visit to the hospital until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have cleared.
If visiting the hospital, people are asked to minimise the risk of catching or spreading an infection by cleaning their hands regularly and practising good cough and sneeze etiquette.
People are also advised not to use patient toilets on the hospital wards or en-suites.
Dr Colm Henry urged people to be vigilant and to avoid contact with people who are vulnerable.