Cases of the ‘winter vomiting bug’ have been rising recently, with the government issuing a warning to those who have caught the illness to stay at home to prevent passing it on to others
Dreaded “winter vomiting bug,” norovirus is on the rise this chilly season. It’s prompted health officials to advise those struck down by the bug to avoid work or school.
Known for causing a nasty mix of vomiting and diarrhoea, the illness typically clears up on its own within a few days.
The NHS has issued a clear directive: “Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least two days. This is when you’re most infectious. Do not visit hospitals or care homes during this time.”
Sufferers may also endure a fever, headaches, and body aches, with symptoms appearing abruptly one to two days after infection. While norovirus can often be managed with rest and plenty of fluids at home, it spreads easily through direct contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surfaces, or consuming food handled by someone with the virus.
Contaminated items, including bedding and surfaces smeared with vomit or diarrhoea, should be handled with gloves and washed at a high temperature of 60C to prevent further spread. To keep the virus at bay, the NHS recommends regular handwashing with soap and water, as alcohol-based hand sanitisers are ineffective against norovirus, reports the Mirror.
And that’s not all – steer clear of hospitals and care homes too, where you could put vulnerable folks at risk. Most people start feeling better in a couple of days, but if your vomit starts looking like coffee grounds, or turns a worrying shade of green or yellow-green, don’t hang about – get medical help fast.
The Government released a report on December 1 with some sobering stats. It said: “This season, the increase in norovirus activity has begun earlier than usual and reporting is continuing to rise across all age groups, particularly in adults aged 65 years and over.”
The two weeks from November 18 to December 1 saw norovirus lab reports more than double the average of the past five seasons.
And there’s been a 27.4% spike in reported outbreaks in hospitals since the 2024/2025 season kicked off, compared to the average over the last five years.
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