A WARD has been shut down at the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford after more than 40 people were struck down with winter vomiting disease.

The highly contagious virus, which causes bouts of violent sickness and diarrhoea, has swept through the hospital in the last week.

Medical wards Cambridge M1 and M2 have both been affected one is closed and a bay on the other is also shut.

The last known new cases were detected on Tuesday with no more being confirmed overnight on Wednesday.

A team of specialist infection-control nurses and doctors are working to contain the bug, known as a norovirus. Staff, patients and visitors have all been affected.

Heightened hygiene procedures are now in place but little more can be done to stop it spreading, according to those who are monitoring the situation.

Anyone entering or leaving wards has to wash their hands, equipment is being thoroughly cleaned and the condition of patients is being closely monitored.

Nurse and infection-control advisor Debbie Weston said: "We are keeping a very close eye on the situation and are monitoring wards closely to see if there are any new cases.

"Once somebody becomes symptomatic there's a good chance that 50 per cent of other people on the ward, including staff, are exposed to it."

The Kent and Canterbury Hospital was badly hit by an outbreak over Christmas and although there have been some isolated incidents, this is the first major situation to develop at the Harvey.

Visitors are being asked to restrict their trips to the hospital to only the most necessary or vital in a bid to contain the bug spreading further.

Miss Weston said some beds could be reopened by today.