The UK Health Security Agency has issued a warning to Brits after a sharp rise in cases of norovirus, urging those who have symptoms of the bug not to go to work or school
Brits are being told to stay at home as cases of norovirus are ripping through the country, with cases spiking sharply in recent weeks.
Health chiefs have sounded the alarm, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issuing an urgent warning about the surge in norovirus infections. According to the UKHSA, levels of the highly contagious virus remain unusually high for this time of year and haven’t shown the expected spring decline.
The dreaded winter vomiting bug is causing havoc, triggering severe diarrhoea and vomiting outbreaks. In a worrying trend, confirmed norovirus cases are a staggering 75 percent above the five-year average, the health body has revealed, reports the Express.
Experts believe the post-Covid landscape and May’s chilly weather may be contributing factors to the stubborn persistence of the bug. To curb the spread, people struck down by the illness are being advised to practice good hygiene and avoid going into work.
Amy Douglas, Norovirus Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Norovirus levels were higher in April than we would usually see at this time of year and have been increasing. This is likely due to a combination of factors, but the colder weather we have had won’t have helped.
“If you have got diarrhoea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing the infection on. 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.
