Gastro outbreak at Canberra Hospital

The outbreak of a gastrointestinal virus at Canberra Hospital has forced one ward to be closed off, in order to limit its spread to other patients and visitors.

A statement issued by ACT Health on Wednesday said a number of patients at Canberra Hospital were sick with Noro virus gastroenteritis, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

"At the moment we have one ward closed as an infection control measure," the statement read.

"Infection control staff (are) working hard to reduce the risk of further cases."

An ACT Health spokeswoman told AAP that all patients in the ward were in a stable condition, and that Noro virus, sometimes called winter gastro, was not uncommon at this time of year.

Visitors to the hospital are being urged to wash their hands before and after entering the facility.