SEVERAL hospital wards in Kent shut because of the winter vomiting bug remain closed as the health service attempts to tackle the infection.

A total of six wards are closed to new admissions in Ashford, Margate, Canterbury and Medway after in-patients were struck down with the highly contegeous Norovirus.

Regulations say closures must remain in place for 72 hours following the last recorded case while deep cleaning takes place, and the wards are unlikely to open until at least tomorrow.

More than 70 wards have been closed in England and Wales because of the virus and doctors estimate that more than 100,000 people a week nationally are catching the bug - a reported five-year high.

At present, one ward is shut at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford, two each are closed at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother in Margate, and one is closed at Gillingham's Medway Maritime Hospital. All other Kent hospitals remain open as normal.

Norovirus spreads through contact with an infected person, through contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes fever. People affected have been urged not to go back to work until the symptoms have fully disappeared.

Director of Kent Health Protection Agency Dr Mathi Chandrakumar urged people not to panic about the bug, and said it was normal to see a large number of cases at this time of year.