Beaumont Hospital in Dublin said tonight it is continuing restrictions on visitors because of an outbreak of norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting virus.
The outbreak was officially declared two weeks ago and since then it has affected some 270 patients.
Yesterday there were 37 patients with the symptoms of the disease, which include include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. This included 12 new cases compared to the previous day, a spokesman for the hospital said.
He said the hospital was continuing to operate a "tight regime" on visiting.
"No visitors are being allowed into the emergency department because of the outbreak. Only pre-authorised visits to wards are being permitted and all other visitors are being turned away."
In recent weeks, a number of hospitals have placed similar restrictions on visitors due to outbreaks of the winter vomiting virus.
They included St Vincent's the Mater hospital, Tallaght hospital, Naas General Hospital, Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Ennis and Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar.