Non-urgent cases are being asked to stay away from hospitals in the Waikato as the district health board deals with a computer virus.

The conficker virus has led to the shut down of three thousand computers.

DHB spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill says it is affecting Waikato, Thames, Te Kuiti, Tokoroa and Taumarunui hospitals and continuing care at Te Awamutu and Morrinsville. She says while non-urgent patients are being asked to stay away from the Emergency Department, people should still turn up for appointments today.