Seventeen patients in the Stroke Rehabilitation Ward and Caravelle Ward at Crawley Hospital have been affected.

Both wards have been closed to admissions and transfers since Tuesday February 5.

Four members of staff have also been affected by the nasty Norovirus in both wards.

Wards will reopen 72 hours after no new cases have been reported and after the ward has been deep cleaned.

West Sussex PCT has increased infection control measures, such as cleaning and increased enforcement of hand hygiene rules.

Eileen Clark, area director at the PCT said: "The public can also play a key role in helping to prevent the spread of infection. If an adult or child has experienced diarrhoea or vomiting in the last three days we ask that they do not visit the hospitals until they have been symptom-free for between 48 and 72 hours."

A spokeswoman for West Sussex PCT added: "As part of the increased infection control measures visiting has been restricted to two visitors to a patient at any one time and visiting times have been reduced to 2.30pm – 3.30pm during the afternoon and 7pm-8pm during the evening.

She said: "Appropriate notices and information has been given to inform staff, patient and visitors of the changes.

She added: "The virus is not a hospital-acquired infection and generally affects people in the community. It is highly infectious and can spread from person to person easily, especially when vomiting occurs."