Rise in norovirus in UK, cases at 8-year high

TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Dec 14, 2023, 21:33 IST

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UK hospitals, including those in Scotland and England, are experiencing a surge in norovirus cases. In Scotland, the number of confirmed cases is 60% higher than last year, reaching the highest rate in eight years. Similarly, hospitals in England have seen a 179 per cent increase in norovirus cases compared to the average for this time of year. The highly contagious virus causes vomiting and diarrhea, leading to the closure of the hospital wards.

Rise in norovirus in UK, cases at 8-year high

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NEW DELHI: Hospitals across the UK have been witnessing a steady increase in the number of people with norovirus in the past few weeks.
Commonly known as the "winter vomiting bug", norovirus increases the risk of staff sickness and absences, stretching resources at hospitals and causing diarrhoea.
According to a BBC report, in the last week of November, around 1,500 people were confirmed to have this virus in Scotland, which is 60% higher than the same time last year.
Figures from the Public Health Scotland (PHS) show reported cases are at their highest rate in eight years.

However, these cases represent only a small proportion of the true incidence as most cases would not require medical attention.
The Guardian reported that in November, the number of people with norovirus in hospitals in England was 179% higher than the average at this time of year.
What is norovirus?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus.

It is sometimes called the “stomach flu” or “stomach bug”. However, norovirus illness is not related to the flu, which is caused by influenza virus. Discover norovirus symptoms, how the virus spreads, and how to prevent norovirus.
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of norovirus are:

feeling sick (nausea)
diarrhoea
being sick (vomiting)

You may also have:

a high temperature
a headache
aching arms and legs

Hospital shuts wards
As per the BBC report, norovirus cases have led to the closure of four wards in a Middlesbrough hospital. The norovirus outbreak is the “biggest” the James Cook University Hospital has seen in the “last four or five years”, said Dr Mike Stewart. The virus is highly infectious and causes diarrhoea and vomiting.
Chief medical officer of South Tees Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Dr Stewart stated that the hospital staff has been managing the epidemic for the past few days.
Direct touch with feces, contaminated surfaces, or airborne vomit particles can all spread the norovirus.

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