England is seeing a spike in cases of norovirus – and it could get worse as we come out of lockdown.
The highly contagious vomiting and diarrhoea bug usually thrives in the winter, but it appears to be spreading already as more people have social interactions.
Public Health England has confirmed there have been almost three times as many outbreaks over the last five weeks than would normally be expected at this time of year.
Cases have been predominantly linked to nursery and childcare facilities so far but there has been a rise across all age groups.
Health officials have warned ‘it is possible that unusual or out-of-season increases could be seen in the coming months following further easing of Covid-19 control measures’.
Symptoms include sudden onset of nausea, projectile vomiting and diarrhoea.
The illness can also cause a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs.
After 16 months of unprecedented social-distancing measures, scientists are keeping a watchful eye on how other viruses respond after being indirectly surpressed in the fight against Covid-19.
Flu was virtually dormant last year and one expert group has forecast 60,000 could die of the illness this winter if the NHS is struggling to cope.
A strengthened awareness campaign around the flu jab is expected this autumn, with scientists warning natural immunity in the population is likely to be very low.
Commenting on the rise in norovirus cases, professor Saheer Gharbia, deputy director of PHE’s National Infection Service, warned people with symptoms to stay at home and to keep children out of school or nursery for 48 hours until symptoms have cleared.
It can be transmitted easily via surfaces so hand-washing is recommended and infected people should not prepare food for anybody else.
The bedding of contaminated people should also be washed at 60C to kill the virus.
Dr Nick Scriven, former president of the Society for Acute Medicine, responded furiously after the release of the norovirus data, which comes days days before social-distancing rules are cast off.
He said: ‘We are now just days away from the lifting of the remaining restrictions in England and our NHS is under great strain.
‘This has been compounded today by the warning that cases of norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, have now reached pre-pandemic levels in summer.
‘Considering the impact this has when it makes its way into hospitals – bed closures, infecting seriously unwell people and staff absence – it is frankly very worrying.
‘At the moment, clinicians across the country are asking themselves exactly what the government is thinking given the fact healthcare is being ravaged.’
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