A suspected Norovirus stomach bug has struck more than 45 residents and staff at Bob Owens Retirement Village for the third time in the last year.

Toi Te Ora Public Health confirm it was notified by the Bethlehem retirement home on November 6 of the first case of the vomiting and diarrhoea illness.

Bob Owens Retirement Village is dealing with a suspected outbreak of the Norovirus stomach bug.

Bay of Plenty Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack says as of yesterday, 46 residents and two staff have been diagnosed, with the two staff sent home from work.

He is not aware of anyone being admitted to Tauranga Hospital or of any new cases being reported.

Norovirus symptoms include vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and nausea. Symptoms usually occur within 48 hours of exposure to an infected person, food or environment.

'For a lot of people it's more a nuisance than anything, but in an older population it can be more debilitating,” says Phil.

Phil understands it is the third outbreak in the Ryman Healthcare Ltd-run village in the last 12 months, but admits in highly populated places, reducing the risk of the disease is much harder.

'There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the risk [of the outbreak spreading] but any diarrhoea or infectious illness is always going to be more of a risk in any institution,” he adds.

'That could be at a day care centre, a school, or in this case a rest home. Another classic place where this can go awry is on cruise ships.”

To avoid the virus, it is recommended people wash their hands with soap and water directly after going to the toilet and before preparing food, as it helps to stop the spread of infection.

Symptoms can be relieved by drinking plenty of fluids until free of all symptoms for a minimum of 24 hours.

Phil adds with the virus being incredibly infectious, measures in the rest home to stop its spread include isolating infected residents and ensuring that care staff did not mingle between the healthy and the sick.

He says: 'In a rest home or hospital type situation, where you have got staff attending to individuals, it's about making sure they are aware of the risk because this virus are very infectious and is able to be spread by direct, person-to-person contact.”

Ryman Healthcare is yet to respond to SunLive's request for comment.