KENT'S hospitals continue to battle with the norovirus and ask visitors to keep their hands clean.

Ward 3 at Kent & Sussex Hosptal was the only one closed to new admissions as the Courier went to press.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS spokesman Paul Bryden said: "We're repeating the request for people to keep visiting to the hospitals to an absolute minimum and not at all to the closed ward.

"They should also be particularly scrupulous about hand hygiene if they do visit."

Norovirus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, affects a million people annually.

Those affected should stay home for at least 72 hours after their symptoms – vomiting and diarrhoea – have stopped, and drink plenty of fluids.

Dr Sara Mumford, the Trust's Director of Infection Prevention and Control, said: "You can help us protect our patients from this illness by postponing your visit if you feel at all unwell."