Aged care facilities hit with gastro outbreak across Victoria

A number of aged care facilities across Melbourne have been hit by outbreaks of gastro, with one facility being closed to visitors for more than a week.

Glendale Aged Care facility in Werribee has been closed to all but critical visits since July 26, and other facilities are also off-limits to the public.

The Health Department told 9NEWS the strain of the norovirus may be new, creating more cases than normally seen, and affecting as many as 30 facilities across Victoria.

Visitors to all aged care and child care centres are being urged to take special care when visiting.

"We're certainly in the peak of the season, we’re seeing more outbreaks in these weeks than any other time of the year thus far," Deputy Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.

"It's really a record season in terms of numbers year-to-date."

Mr Sutton said the department is expecting to see more cases of gastro in the coming weeks.