Norovirus: how to avoid catching 'winter vomiting bug' as cases continue to remain high
Despite being known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’, norovirus can strike at any time of the year 🤢
- Cases of norovirus remain high.
- The ‘winter vomiting bug’ is highly contagious.
- People are being asked to continue taking simple steps to protect themselves.
Norovirus cases remain high, according to the latest data from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA). The number of infections from the ‘winter vomiting bug’ is starting to stabilise, after it was reported last week that cases had surged to more than 50% above average.
Respiratory illnesses, such as RSV and the flu, have continued to fall and are circulating at baseline and low levels. Whilst there has been an increase in Covid cases to a positivity rate of 2.5% compared to 2.1% last week.
People are being asked to continue to take steps to protect themselves and reduce the spread of these viruses this winter. Amy Douglas, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Norovirus activity has remained high in recent weeks. We are seeing signs that the virus is stabilising at these high levels, but we need to start seeing a decline if we are to reduce the impact that this virus has on our communities and health system.”
What is norovirus?
Despite being known as the “winter vomiting bug”, norovirus can strike at any time of the year. It is highly contagious and spreads easily through close contact, making outbreaks in nurseries, cruise ships or hospital settings common.
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
Norovirus symptoms can be unpleasant, but tend to resolve within two to three days. They include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. However, for young children, older people or those with weakened immune systems, it can cause complications, including dehydration, which may need hospital treatment.
How to avoid catching norovirus?
Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads easily, but there are some things you can do to avoid catching the stomach bug.
The virus is caught through close contact with someone unwell, touching contaminated surfaces and then your mouth, eating food prepared by someone with norovirus, or eating or drinking unclean food.
Handwashing is an important step to help you avoid infection. The NHS recommend regularly washing your hands in warm, soapy water after going to the toilet or changing a nappy. They also advise you should wash your hands before preparing, serving or eating food.
Alcohol-based hand sanitising gels that grew in popularity during the Covid pandemic are not effective at killing norovirus, which is why washing your hands is such a vital method of protection.
If someone in your household catches norovirus, their clothes or bedding should be washed at 60°C and separately from other laundry. Toilet seats, flush handles, taps and bathroom door handles should be sanitised with a bleach-based cleaner, and the unwell person should avoid people and not attend nursery, school or work until 48 hours after their last symptoms, as norovirus can still be contagious.
Douglas said: “Wash your hands with soap and warm water and use bleach-based products to clean surfaces to help stop infections spreading. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus so don’t rely on these alone.
“If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, don’t return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others in that time either. If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to prevent passing on the infection to those most vulnerable.”
Norovirus cases remain high. You can find out more about the signs and symptoms at NHS.UK.