The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported a rise in norovirus cases, advising people with symptoms to stay at home for 48 hours. New data shows 2,111 laboratory reports of the infection so far this season, a 16.8% increase on the five-season average for the same period.
Cases rising across recent weeks
According to data published by the health agency, the bug has started to spread quickly, with 257 reports over the two weeks up to last week. Norovirus is highly contagious and causes sudden inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It cannot be killed by hand sanitiser.
The UKHSA previously warned: "Norovirus is incredibly infectious, so if you're feeling unwell stay home for 48 hours after symptoms stop as you are still infectious during this time." The agency also warned that hand sanitiser will not work to prevent the illness.
Full list of symptoms
The NHS says the main symptoms of norovirus usually start suddenly and may include feeling sick, being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea. You may also have a high temperature, a headache, tummy pain and body aches and pains.
According to the NHS, symptoms usually appear 12 to 48 hours after exposure and last for roughly two to three days. It is extremely easy to pass the bug from person to person, including through direct contact and touching contaminated surfaces.
How to treat norovirus
The NHS advises people to stay at home and get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids such as water or squash (taking small sips if feeling sick), carry on breast or bottle feeding a baby (giving small feeds more often if they are being sick), give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds, eat when feeling able to (avoiding fatty or spicy foods), and take paracetamol if in discomfort, checking the leaflet before giving it to a child.
The health service advises against having fruit juice or fizzy drinks as they can make diarrhoea worse, making baby formula weaker (it should be used at its usual strength), giving children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea, and giving aspirin to children under 16.
The NHS advises anyone with symptoms not to go to school, nursery or work until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for two days. They should also not visit others in hospitals or places like care homes until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for two days.
