Almost 200 staff and patients have been struck down by a stomach bug that has rampaged through a hospital for a second week running.

Such is the extent of the outbreak of the gastroenteritis virus, Eastbourne District General Hospital (DGH) has been forced to cancel all non-emergency operations this week.

The number of people to fall ill has risen from 60, as reported in The Argus last Thursday, to 194.

Infection control staff said 120 patients had been infected, plus 74 staff.

Communications manager for the hospital Janine Bell said the virulence of the bug had caused the high increase. She said the hospital needed to keep using beds for emergency admissions but this had helped the bug to spread as more patients came into the hospital.

Fifteen wards have been affected with only the emergency unit, intensive care, coronary care, paediatrics, outpatients and maternity wards left unscathed.

Chief nurse Martin Smits said: "Staff continue to cope magnificently with what is a very difficult situation.

"With so many patients infected, staff are at risk of catching the virus, no matter how good their infection control procedures are.

"Despite this risk they remain committed and good-humoured. They are a tremendous asset to Eastbourne."

Gastroenteritis is not a life-threatening bug and classic symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches and a fever.

The outbreak of the virus is being investigated but staff believe it may stem from patients who brought it into the hospital with them.

Day surgery patients are urged to keep appointments unless they hear from the hospital.