As figures from the UK Health and Safety Agency show a spike in norovirus figures, health experts have warned people what they need to be doing to avoid catching the virus
Health experts have warned people to be wary of norovirus infections rising after an expert says the illness – also known as the “winter vomiting bug” – can pass from person to person by sticking to clothes.
It’s believed any fabric-covered items, including clothing, chairs, sofas, cushions and curtains, can harbour the contagious virus which has seen cases spike by up to 40% in the past year. Anyone who catches it can face horrible symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea or abdominal pain.
Now, health bosses are worrying any more surges of the virus will put unnecessary pressure on an already stretched health service which is also battling rising flu cases. People are being told not to rely on using hand sanitisers, as alcohol doesn’t effectively kill off the bug, but instead focus washing their hands properly as a “first line of defence”.
Microbiologist Jason Tetro has explained how washing and drying our clothes on a high heat can also help give you that extra bit of protection from the bug. He told the HuffPost : “Your clothing is porous and therefore is essentially a solid petri dish. Anything that comes into contact with your clothes is going to stick to [them]. Norovirus [can] survive an entire month in pretty much any condition.”
Mr Tetro said washing detergents will help kill norovirus and that “hot is your best friend” when it comes to battling the viruses microbes. He also recommends running an empty hot-water cycle at least one a month with bleach to make sure your washing machine is clean.
Experts at the University of Minnesota have issued a warning about how to clean surfaces touched by someone with norovirus properly, MailOnline reports. They revealed that if someone has thrown up a carpet then you shouldn’t use a vacuum before cleaning it as this was cause the infectious pathogens to spread into the air. Instead, it suggests applying baking soda to affected area before steam cleaning or disinfecting with antimicrobial products effective against norovirus.
Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) released in December show that reports of the virus from this year, 4,523, have more than doubles than that of five years ago – 2,057. Rates of the vomiting bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are also more than double the levels seen pre-Covid for this time of year, UKHSA figures show
NHS data has revealed that 528 hospital beds around England were filled each day last week with patients suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting or other symptoms. This was done from the previous week, which saw 723 beds occupied, but was still 40% higher than the previous year, 377, and in 2022 – 338.
People are told to speak to their doctor if they have any symptoms, but in most cases it eventually clears up on its own. The key to recovery is to rest and have lots of fluids, according to health bosses. The likes of paracetamol can also be taken to help with fever or aches and pains.
