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The Carleton Place hospital has closed part of its inpatient unit and is warning visitors away amid an outbreak of norovirus.

People needing emergency care should still come to the hospital’s emergency department.

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The hospital said in a statement on its website it’s working with the public health unit to “contain and resolve” the outbreak of the virus, which causes diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and may be accompanied by stomach pain, cramps, a mild fever and an aching head and muscles.

“We encourage those who wish to visit patients on the inpatient unit to reconsider visiting at this time as you will be at risk of becoming ill,” the hospital said in the statement. “If you are ill, please do not visit as Norovirus is highly contagious.”

The hospital said Friday that the statement was issued two days ago, and that no new patients had been identified since Dec. 28.

People who get norovirus can be sick for up to 60 hours and are considered contagious for 48 hours after their symptoms disappear.