Continued rise in norovirus cases putting ‘sustained pressure’ on the NHS

Cases of norovirus cases are continuing to rise, with an 18% jump in the past fortnight, public health officials warn.

Figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show while the infection is still mainly affecting older people, cases in children under the age of five years have also risen in the past few weeks.

Overall, norovirus laboratory reports between 12 January to 25 January were 73.8% higher than the five-season average for the same two-week period and 18.3% higher than during the previous two-week period, surveillance data shows.

The infection is putting the NHS under ‘sustained pressure’ as those in hospital with norovirus hit a new high for this winter.

An average of 950 hospital beds were filled each day last week by people with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms up 15% from the previous week’s average of 823 patients.

Public health officials are urging people to wash their hands with soap and water and use bleach-based products to clean surfaces in order to stop the spread of the bug.

And they reminded parents to keep children with diarrhoea and vomiting at home for at least 48 hours after symptoms have stopped ‘as this can go a long way in preventing further spread’.

Amy Douglas, lead epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘Norovirus activity has remained high in recent weeks, particularly among those aged 65 years and over and is now increasing among children aged under 5 years as well.

‘Outbreaks in hospital settings have also increased.’

She added: ‘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.’

The latest surveillance data also shows that cases of flu and RSV continue to fall.

Dr Conall Watson, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘While we are heading in the right direction, it’s really important to remember that the end of the flu season could still be some months away and people should continue taking steps to reduce the spread, particularly when visiting those more vulnerable.’

So far this season flu vaccine uptake has reached 74.2% in all those aged over 65 years.

In addition, 40.5% in those aged under 65 years with one or more long-term health conditions, 38.5% in all pregnant women and 43.3% in children aged two years and 44.6% in children aged two years have had the influenza vaccine.