Doctors and nurses have urged patients with a highly infectious illness to stay away from Epsom and St Helier hospitals.
They made the plea to anyone struck down by the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
A spokesman for the hospitals said the illness spread quickly in schools and offices, and was then brought into clinics and wards by patients and visitors.
Symptoms include nausea followed by diarrhoea and projectile vomiting.
Pippa Hart, director of nursing at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Trust, said: “There is no particular treatment for norovirus so the public can help limit the spread by staying away from hospitals and offices if they are unwell, as well as keeping poorly children off school so they do not spread it.”
She said anyone with the illness should remain at home until at least 48 hours after the symptoms had stopped, and urged those affected to wash their hands thoroughly.
For more information call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
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