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29th November 2024
05:09pm GMT
Temperatures are continuing to drop and we're plunging deeper into winter. Along with the sound of jingle bells and Christmas songs, that also means you're probably starting to hear a few more coughs, sneezes and sniffles in your day to day life.
But a lot of this can just be put down to the common cold, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has now issued a warning for people to stay at home for 48 hours if they catch another highly contagious bug doing the rounds.
The UKHSA has warned people to stay indoors if they catch the GII.17 strain of norovirus, a variant which the agency says has been responsible for most cases in the 2024/25 winter season.
Also known as the 'winter vomiting bug', norovirus is an unpleasant stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea,
In their weekly update report, the agency said norovirus activity is "now increasing again across all age groups, with the biggest increase in adults, particularly adults aged 65 years and over". Between 4-17 November this year, there was a 31.6 per cent rise compared to the previous fortnight.
Total reports are almost double the five-season average for the same period, whilst the total number of norovirus outbreaks reports to the Hospital Norovirus Outbreak Reporting System (HNORS) since the start of the 2024/2025 season is almost 20 per cent higher than the five-season average.
The majority of these cases (89 per cent) have been identified as norovirus genogroup 2 (GII), with variant GII.17 being the most common (66.3 per cent).
Whilst it may be more contagious, there is no evidence to suggest this strain causes more severe illness.
The UKHSA said it is "likely that the emergence of an unusual norovirus genotype, GII.17, as well as changes in the epidemiology following the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors are contributing to the observed rise" in cases.
The main symptoms of norovirus are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, but can also include a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs. The virus can cause dehydration, especially in cases affecting young children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.
Amy Douglas, epidemiologist at UKHSA, said:“We continue to see high levels of norovirus circulating in our communities. If you’ve caught the virus, take steps to avoid passing the infection on. If you have diarrhoea or vomiting, do not 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 in these settings. Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help stop infections from spreading. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus, so don’t rely on these alone.”
You can find out more information about norovirus symptoms and how to treat it by visiting the NHS website here.
As unpleasant as the illness is, it could soon be very preventable, with trials currently underway for a vaccine.
