Britain’s chief medic has urged the public to isolate for two days if they are suffering norovirus symptoms, as the NHS battles a second wave of the winter vomiting bug.
His intervention comes as newly released data show cases of Covid-19 are rising and flu and severe child respiratory infection RSV remain extremely high.
With viruses circulating in hospitals, almost 50,000 NHS staff were off sick each day last week—almost 10 per cent more than last year—exacerbating pressures.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, who today announced that he is stepping down, said despite the sunny weather ‘winter is certainly not over’ for the health service.
He added: ‘To help stop the spread of norovirus it is important to remember to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and if you’re unwell to avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days.’
Symptoms of norovirus including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach pain which typically come on suddenly.
Patients may also suffer flu-like symptoms such as a fever and chills, muscle discomfort, headaches and fatigue.
Figures released by NHS England, show there were 1,094 patients a day in hospital with norovirus last week.
Britain’s chief medic has urged the public to isolate for two days if they are suffering norovirus symptoms as the NHS battles a second wave of the inter vomiting bug
This is more than double the number of patients compared to the same period last year.
Medics were also forced to close nearly 300 beds each day last to prevent the spread of virus inside hospital.
Experts have previously said a new, more transmissible, norovirus variant now accounts for almost 70 per cent of all cases.
Since the start of the 2024/2025 season, the number of outbreaks of the winter vomiting bug reported in hospital settings is also 26 per cent higher than the five-year average.
The surge of cases is mounting pressure on the already stretched health service.
Last month 40,000 bed days — where a patient stays in an NHS hospital for a full 24 hours —were lost because of norovirus.
The additional strain on the health service means that there are more patients in hospital than this time last year – with 95.6 per cent of beds occupied.
Almost one in seven beds were taken up by patients who no longer needed to be there because of delays discharging patients.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting thanked NHS staff for their ‘tireless work’ in the face of winter pressures, adding: ‘While the latest figures point to slight easing in certain areas, the health service remains under considerable strain.
‘To ease the burden of seasonal pressures this year, we have delivered more than 29 million vaccinations and ended the damaging strikes, keeping doctors on the front line, rather than the picket line.’
The majority of norovirus patients will not need to speak to a doctor about the infection. In most cases, it will clear up on its own.
But for those who are more vulnerable — typically the elderly, young and immunocompromised — it can lead to serious dehydration, resulting in hospitalisation.
It has been estimated that for every case of norovirus reported to national surveillance in the UK, there are roughly 288 in the community that go unreported.
The bug is usually spread through close contact with someone who is infected, or by touching surfaces or objects, or eating food someone infected has touched.
Rest and having lots of fluid are often recommended by health professionals to help recover. Paracetamol may also aid a fever or aches and pains.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .