PEOPLE with the cold or flu are being warned not to visit friends or family in hospital. 

Greater Glasgow and Clyde's nursing director issued the warning as the health board looks to stamp out high flu rates.

Dr Margaret McGuire said: "Since the beginning of the year, flu levels in Scotland and Greater Glasgow and Clyde have quadrupled, to their highest level since 2010.

"With levels still so high, our challenge is to try to prevent its spread to our patients and staff.

"Flu is extremely infectious and can easily spread to other people – that’s why it is vital that you protect your loved ones in hospital by staying away until you are better. 

"If they are in hospital they are already ill or injured so you don’t want to make them worse by bringing in germs.

"You’re more likely to give it to others in the first five days, and it is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours. 

"There are a number of simple actions people can take to reduce the risk of spreading the virus including washing your hands often with warm water and soap, using tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze, and binning those tissues as quickly as possible. Catch it, bin it, kill it."