One London hospital has even closed wards as a result of this infection.
The NHS has shared three simple steps you can take to protect yourself from a dreaded winter bug as the infection has been spreading through hospitals “like wildfire”. Extremely high case numbers of norovirus are being reported across sites in England, with one hospital closing wards as a result.
As per the latest data, 961 patients a day were in hospital across England with norovirus last week. This is up seven percent on the week before and 69 percent higher than the same period last year, when there were 570 cases for the week ending February 4.
An update from the health service branded it the “busiest week for hospitals this winter” due to the spike in norovirus cases. “There were more patients in hospitals last week than at any other point so far this winter, as the number of norovirus cases in hospital continued to rise,” it said.
Three wards at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, London, have been closed due to an outbreak of the dreaded vomiting bug. This is to help reduce the risk of the infection spreading and protect new patients from being exposed to the virus.
Professor Arlene Wellman, group chief nurse for St George’s Hospital, said: “Once norovirus enters a hospital, it can rip through our wards like wildfire, making patients even sicker.” Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads through faeces, meaning it can be passed on easily if someone has not properly washed their hands after using the bathroom.
Therefore, the NHS has advised the following steps to avoid becoming infected:
- Wash your hands with soap and water after going to the toilet or changing nappies (alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus)
- Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing, serving or eating food
- Avoid contact with others as much as possible.
You should also wash clothes and bedding that has poo or vomit on it on a 60C wash and separately from other laundry, and clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps and bathroom door handles. The main symptoms of norovirus usually start “suddenly”.
These can include, feeling sick, being sick (vomiting), and diarrhoea. However, you can also experience a high temperature, a headache, tummy pain, and body aches and pains.
If you have any symptoms, the NHS says you should not go to school, nursery or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for two days. You should also avoid hospitals and care homes for the same period.
You should start to feel better in two to three days. The NHS adds: “The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.”
If you or your child have diarrhoea for more than seven days or vomiting for more than two days you should call 111.