A medical ward at Raigmore Hospital has been closed of an outbreak of norovirus.
Ward 2C at the Inverness hospital has three patients suffering from symptoms and testing has shown that norovirus is present on the ward.
It has now been closed to new admissions and visitors.
The virus, which causes diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, can spread in the air when someone has had diarrhoea or vomited and is extremely infectious.
Dr Jonty Mills, consultant microbiologist for NHS Highland, said: “By restricting visiting to the affected area it helps hospital staff protect the health, privacy and dignity of our patients.
“We would also ask that people do not come to the hospital to visit if they have, or live with someone who has, had any vomiting or diarrhoea within the previous 48 hours.
“By doing this we will be able to limit the spread as much as possible.
“Hospital staff will of course be very happy to talk to visitors on the phone so they can get updates on how their relatives are.”
There is no specific treatment for a norovirus infection and it is not usually necessary to visit a doctor.
The best course of action is to stay at home and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. People should also adhere to strict hand washing techniques to reduce the spread of the virus.