The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned that norovirus, often called the 'winter vomiting bug', can spread throughout the year, not just in colder months. Symptoms typically include nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, but some sufferers may also experience headaches, fever, and aching in the legs or arms.
UKHSA guidance states that norovirus 'is able to spread easily through communities', leading to outbreaks in hospitals, care homes, schools, and nurseries. Symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure, and individuals are most infectious while symptomatic. However, the virus can be shed before and after symptoms appear, contaminating surfaces, objects, or food.
To prevent transmission, anyone with norovirus should stay away from work, school, care homes, and hospitals for 48 hours after symptoms stop. The UKHSA emphasises that alcohol-based hand sanitisers are not effective against norovirus; instead, hands should be washed thoroughly with warm water and soap. Contaminated clothing or bedding should be washed at 60°C.
The UKHSA previously posted on X: 'Vomiting or diarrhoea in spring? It could still be #Norovirus. Despite being known as the 'winter vomiting bug', norovirus can spread all year round.'
