The outbreak of norovirus at the Highland’s flagship hospital could last until next week, leaving more than a dozen beds lying empty in the affected wards.
Health bosses claim the hospital is coping with the impact of the winter vomiting bug, which has struck 26 patients At Raigmore Hospital since last week.
However they admitted that it is almost impossible to prevent the bug entering the Inverness hospital.
Members of the public have again been urged not to visit if they have had symptoms of norovirus or been in contact with those who have had the symptoms.
It is feared that the outbreak was brought into the hospital from the community.
But there was good news for NHS Highland as one ward which closed yesterday after patients suffered vomiting and diarrhoea were confirmed as not having norovirus.
Ward 5C opened last night after cleaning took place.
Dr Ken McDonald, associate medical director for Raigmore Hospital, said that there were no new cases of norovirus yesterday.
But the two closed wards will remain closed until patients are free of symptoms for 48 hours, meaning that it could be the weekend before they are reopened. They will also undergo a day of deep cleaning.
Just three patients on each ward are now showing symptoms. In total some 25 people have been affected.
Dr McDonald said that if outbreaks are not contained quickly, there is a danger of it “spreading rapidly through the hospital”.
He added: “We have not had to cancel surgery and have been able to continue with our emergency admissions process.”
He said: “It is difficult to prevent the virus entering hospital in first place. It is almost impossible to do that.
“Some people will become unwell with the virus in the community and then be admitted for that or other reasons.
“The key thing is identifying it early.”