HEALTH bosses say two wards are currently closed at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford as a result of the winter vomiting disease.

Cambridge ward and King's ward have been shut for two days because of incidents of norovirus.

Meanwhile, the head of the Kent Health Protection Agency has played down worries of a winter vomiting bug pandemic.

Agency director Dr Mathi Chandrakumar said that despite the apparent high volume of people suffering from the infectious virus in the county, it was normal to experience such an outbreak at this time of year and that the public shouldn’t panic.

Dr Chandrakumar said: “It is not unusual to see an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug at this time of year.

“A big case of Norovirus, and flu, happens every year and I wouldn’t say this year is much worse than previous ones.

“But when there are big cases, everyone panics and says it is worse than ever. But there is no evidence at the moment that this is a pandemic.”

Dr Chandrakumar said Norovirus was not a “notifiable” illness for the Health Protection Agency, and so does not have data on the number of cases in Kent, but still assured the county the bug was not serious.

He added: “It is a mild illness and you do recover quickly from it within 24 to 48hours.”

Tens of thousands of people across the UK were reportedly been struck down by both the Norovirus, which causes vomiting, diarrhoea and possible fever, over the festive period and GPs are continuing to treat new cases.

Symptoms include sudden vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as possible fever, aches and pains.

Those affected are advised to stay at home, drink lots of fluids, take paracetamol and wash their hands regularly.

The bug can be spread by contact with an infected person, through contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, and the Royal College of GPs has warned suffers to stay away from work, surgeries and hospitals for 48hours after the symptoms have gone.