Vomiting Virus Sweeps Britain

AFRIK UPDATE

Health

By Sophie Borland

                     

Britain is in the grip of a winter vomiting outbreak which has already seen many thousands fall victim to the debilitating virus.

Cases of the bug have surged to a five-year high and the health service  has reported outbreaks at dozens of hospitals.

Front-line health workers are being struck down by the virus, leaving overstretched departments badly under-staffed.

Experts say the norovirus bug has arrived early this year and have warned the problem will worsen over the winter.

Last night microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington, based at the University of Aberdeen, said: ‘This year it seems to have taken off earlier than in previous years.

‘No-one can predict what it’s going to do except that we are going to have a reasonably hard time of it, I am sure. It would be grossly optimistic to suggest otherwise.

   The black dotted line shows how norovirus laboratory reports have been higher for the past five weeks compared with any year since 2007 when testing methods changed

‘It’s a nightmare because wards are closed, it’s a nightmare because staff are off, who are essential. And it’s obviously a nightmare for any patients in hospital who get it who are already pretty sick.’

Norovirus is normally brought into hospitals by patients, visiting relatives or even staff. It is also linked to outbreaks at schools and is responsible for many hospital admissions for young children.

The elderly are also vulnerable because they can become dehydrated quickly and end up requiring more hospital treatment.

It is extremely contagious and is often spread by touching the same doors or stair rails as someone with the virus. Experts also say that when a patient vomits, there is a strong chance anyone else in the room will be infected.

Experts do not know why norovirus has arrived early but its spread is extremely unpredictable.

Although it is known as the winter vomiting bug, it can be caught all year round. Scientists say it is more prevalent in colder, wetter months because people spend more time closer together indoors.