The UK may be facing a second wave of norovirus, a winter vomiting bug that the UK Health Security Agency warns.
The latest figures show an increase in norovirus across the UK, with the highest levels of cases reported for over a decade. Changes in the circulating strain mean that people who are already sick with noroviruses this winter are at risk of catching them again.
“We've seen a lot of effort into making money,” said Amy Douglas, a leading UKHSA epidemiologist. “Norovirus levels are still very high and there are currently multiple genotypes spreading simultaneously, so this season there is a chance that they will get infected at least once.”
The two-week lab confirmed cases from February 3rd to 16th were 29% higher than the previous two weeks, with more than twice the five season average of the same two-week two weeks (168%). Latest UKHSA data show. This brings the prevalence to the highest level since government agencies began reporting data like this in 2014.
This impact is particularly severe in hospitals and nursing homes, and is the highest case among people over the age of 65.
Douglas said: Norovirus symptoms can be more severe in elderly people, young children, and immunocompromised children. ”
The most recent data also shows a shift in circular strains. In the case of strain known as GII.4which has been dominated over the past few years, representing 29% of cases now, compared to just 10% from three months ago. So far, it has appeared recently GII.17 Although the stocks dominate, it currently accounts for 59% of cases, which have fallen from 76% of cases in November.
Common symptoms of norovirus include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, high temperatures, stomach pain, and painful limbs. Some people, especially young children, older adults, and those with weak immune systems, are more likely to develop severe symptoms that can cause dehydration. Anyone with these symptoms is advised to drink plenty of liquids to avoid this.
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Ukhsa advises anyone with norovirus symptoms to visit hospitals or nursing homes, return to work, school or nursery 48 hours after symptoms have stopped, and prepare food for others during this period.
As the weather warms and people spend less time indoors, cases begin to decline at this time of year, but Uksa said it's too early to tell if the norovirus has peaked this season.
UKHSA experts estimate that reported cases represent only a small fraction of the actual infection. For all cases reported to national surveillance, around 288 cases have occurred in the community, suggesting about 3M cases per year in the UK.
