SUFFERING from headaches, vomiting or a high temperature? You’re not alone.
Cases of the sickness bug norovirus have increased rapidly over the last few weeks – and they’re expected to continue to rise in the run-up to Christmas.
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The stomach illness, sometimes referred to as the winter vomiting disease, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis.
It triggers nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting, as well as a fever, headache and aching arms and legs.
Prof Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: “Although norovirus infections occur throughout the year, it is still highly seasonal.
“Infections increase throughout autumn and early winter and typically peak around February, so I expect that cases will continue to increase as we move towards Christmas.”
Dr Zina Alfahl, lecturer in bacteriology at the University of Galway, added: “Norovirus cases are on the rise due to a combination of seasonal and social factors.
“Typically, the virus sees a surge during colder months, as it thrives in low temperatures, which allow it to remain viable on surfaces for longer periods.
“This seasonal pattern is amplified by the increase in social interactions.
“As more people gather for events, travel and other activities, opportunities for transmission multiply.
“Additionally, due to reduced exposure to common viruses over recent years of social distancing, overall immunity within the population may be lower.
“This gap in immunity can lead to more significant outbreaks when exposure to the virus resumes.”
Norovirus spreads very easily through close contact as well as contaminated surfaces and food, so sometimes you simply won’t be able to evade it.
However, there are some easy ways to protect yourself from the dreaded bug.
Importantly, try to avoid making these five mistakes:
1. POOR HAND HYGIENE
Dr Alfahl said: “Certain common mistakes can put individuals at a higher risk of contracting norovirus.
“One of the most significant is poor hand hygiene.
“Failing to thoroughly wash hands after using the bathroom or before handling food can lead to the virus being transferred to food, surfaces or directly to others.”
Dr Damien Tully, assistant professor in epidemiology, biostatistics and bioinformatics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, added: “Norovirus is quite a resilient little virus.
“The best advice is to be diligent with hand washing with soap and warm water.
“Alcohol-based hand sanitisers or gels do not kill the virus as norovirus lacks a viral envelope and such detergents can’t penetrate the protein coat of the virus, which serves as a shield protecting the viruses genetic material.”
2. THE WRONG CLEANING PRODUCTS
“Another common error is inadequate surface cleaning,” Dr Alfahl said.
“Simply wiping down areas without using an effective disinfectant may not remove all traces of the virus as norovirus is resistant to many general cleaning agents and requires disinfectants containing chlorine bleach to be effectively neutralised.”
3. FOOD PREP ERRORS
Mistakes can also be made in the kitchen.
Dr Alfahl said: “Food handling can also lead to outbreaks.
“Preparing meals while symptomatic or shortly after recovering from norovirus can result in contaminated food that infects others.”
Dr Tully added: “People should also be aware that eating raw or undercooked shellfish such as oysters can increase the risk for norovirus.
“Oysters are filter feeders who take up norovirus as they filter seawater and if there is any potential wastewater contamination from humans there is an increased risk of illness.
“Carefully wash fruit and vegetables before preparing or eating them as norovirus is a leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks.”
4. POOR SICKNESS PROTOCOL
If you do fall ill, it’s important to clean up properly afterwards.
Dr Alfahl said: “Improper management of incidents involving vomiting or diarrhoea can spread virus particles into the air and onto surfaces if not promptly and correctly cleaned.”
So scrub, scrub and scrub again!
5. SHARING TOWELS, CUTLERY AND PHONES
And finally, some of the items we touch every day can also be major spreaders.
“Sharing personal items such as towels, cutlery or phones without proper sanitation can also be a vector for the virus, making it crucial to maintain good hygiene and avoid communal use of such items,” Dr Alfahl said.
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If you make these mistakes, you could end up seriously unwell.
“Norovirus typically causes sudden symptoms that include vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps, appearing 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasting for one to three days,” Dr Alfahl said.
“The virus is highly contagious, with individuals able to spread it from the onset of symptoms until at least three days after recovery and potentially longer in some cases.
“To prevent the spread of norovirus, maintaining good hand hygiene is essential.
“Washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is more effective than using hand sanitisers, which are not as efficient at killing the virus.
“Disinfecting surfaces with bleach-based cleaners is necessary to fully eradicate any traces of the virus.
“Isolating infected individuals and keeping them away from communal spaces for at least 48 hours after their symptoms have subsided can reduce the spread.
“Washing any clothing or linens that may have been contaminated with hot water and detergent is also important for prevention.
“Remaining vigilant, especially during the winter and holiday season, is key to minimising the risk of norovirus outbreaks in both private and public settings.”
The risk of a ‘quadruple-demic’ is quite real for some individuals
Carolina Goncalves
The festive period is particularly bad for norovirus as everyone packs into crowded spaces and shares food.
Dr Alfahl said: “As Christmas approaches, several factors may contribute to a continued rise in norovirus cases.
“The holiday season is synonymous with increased indoor gatherings, including family get-togethers, office parties and community events.
“These close-contact settings create prime conditions for the virus to spread.
“Travel also plays a role, with many people journeying to visit family and friends, sharing transportation and communal spaces that facilitate transmission.
“Children, who are particularly vulnerable to norovirus, often bring the virus home from schools and day-cares.
“As they spend time with older relatives over the holidays, outbreaks in educational settings can significantly impact broader community health.”
Those most at risk include young children and older people.
When to call 111 and 999 for norovirus
NOROVIRUS usually goes away on its own after a couple of days and doesn’t require medical attention.
Staying hydrated, eating easy-to-digest foods, and getting plenty of rest should do the trick.
But you might need to speak to a doctor if:
- You’re worried about your baby who is younger than 12 months
- Your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill
- You think your child under five might be dehydrated – signs could include fewer wet nappies
- You’ve used rehydration sachets but still have signs of dehydration
- You or your child keep being sick and can’t keep fluids down
- You or your child have bloody diarrhoea or start bleeding from the bottom
- You or your child have diarrhoea for more than seven days or are vomiting for more than two days
And if you spot any of the following signs, it’s vital to seek urgent care:
- Blood in your vomit
- Vomit that looks like ground coffee
- Green vomit (adults) or yellow-green vomit (children)
- A stiff neck
- Pain when looking at bright lights
- A sudden, severe headache or stomach ache
Source: NHS
Like other illnesses, norovirus changes over time.
The current dominant strain is Kawasaki, named after the Japanese city it was first detected in in 2014.
Prof Hunter said: “This year we have seen more infections over the summer months than would normally expect and the annual increase started a little early compared to what we saw pre-Covid.
“Cases in recent months are higher than last year, which was also a high year.
“It is not clear why we are seeing high infection rates this year.
“Pre-Covid bad years were usually associated with the emergence of a new genotype.
“There is a variant GII.17 (Kawasaki) which is now the commonest variant having replaced GII.4.
“However, GII.17 is not a particularly recent type having been first reported about nine years ago.
“Reduced population immunity due to low infections during Covid control measures could also be an explanation.
“It is very difficult to avoid norovirus infections as the virus is quite infectious and about 12 per cent of the asymptomatic population carry the virus.
“The important thing is that people with vomiting and diarrhoea avoid coming into contact with others as much as possible.”
Norovirus is one of the four viruses running rife this winter.
Experts are warning of a looming ‘quadruple-demic’ – with cases of Covid, flu, RSV and norovirus expected to rocket over the coming weeks.
Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist for Pharmica, previously said: “The risk of a ‘quadruple-demic’ is quite real for some individuals.
“Concurrent outbreaks of Covid, flu, RSV and norovirus during the colder months can trigger back-to-back illness and may be exacerbated by seasonal factors, increased indoor gatherings and weak immune systems in some individuals.”
