The Kent and Sussex Hospital is the fourth to be affected

Four wards at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells were forced to close to new patients on Wednesday after an outbreak of the Novovirus.

On Tuesday, the Livingstone Hospital in Dartford was closed to new admissions after 12 patients contracted the virus.

Wards at the Kent and Canterbury and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospitals have re-opened after being affected by the bug before Christmas.

Deep cleaning

A spokesman for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said the first case was spotted at the Kent and Sussex Hospital between Christmas and New Year.

Robust hygiene measures were in place at the hospital to stop the bug spreading, he said.

During Christmas, the Kent and Canterbury Hospital in Canterbury was closed to new patients because of the virus.

The majority of wards were closed for deep cleaning and about 150 patients and staff were affected in total.

The hospital eventually re-opened on Boxing Day.

Last month, eight cases were also reported at Margate's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, which introduced limited visiting hours.