Winter vomiting bug cases soar

The winter vomiting bug has claimed another 141,000 victims in the last week, pushing the annual total up to more than 1.1million.

Health officials said the number of confirmed cases of norovirus was more than double the level for this time last year – and the toll is expected to rise again.

Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency show there were 3,538 confirmed cases before the 492 new ones from last week.

The total of 4,030 is more than twice the 1,934 cases at this time last year. But this is only a fraction of the true total as most sufferers do not visit their GP.

HPA officials estimate there are 288 victims in the community for every confirmed case. This suggests that approximately 1.15million adults and children have been hit by the virus.

The agency said that in the two weeks to December 23 there were also 70 reported hospital outbreaks, compared with 61 in the previous fortnight.

That brought the number of outbreaks for the season to 538, forcing many wards to close to prevent the illness spreading.

Symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea, often with headache, raised temperature and stomach cramps.

The illness usually resolves itself in one or two days in otherwise healthy people.

HOW TO AVOID NOROVIRUS
Wash your hands at least five times a day with soap and water. You should do it for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice - or for 20 seconds.

If someone in your family gets it, protect everyone else by cleaning your bathroom with bleach-based cleaners.

Avoid food prepared by anyone who has had the virus within the last 48 hours.

Scrub your kitchen with bleach-based cleaning fluids.

If you think you have it, do NOT visit your GP surgery or local A&E Unit. Norovirus is a self-limiting illness and you will recover naturally without treatment. It is, however, important to take plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids.