Highly contagious ‘Kawasaki bug’ sweeps the UK as GP warns people to ‘stay at home’

A NEW strain of a highly contagious wintertime microorganism is sweeping the state - and those infected are being told to enactment astatine location to debar further spread.

Having archetypal been identified successful Japan, it's rapidly go the ascendant strain of the microorganism crossed the UK successful caller months, accounting for 70 per cent of each cases.

Norovirus, often referred to arsenic the 'winter vomiting bug', is simply a tummy bug that causes symptoms similar vomiting and diarrhoea.

Cases usually soar implicit autumn and wintertime arsenic much radical walk clip indoors, successful adjacent proximity to each other.

But truthful acold this winter, cases are doubling compared to 2023 reports, and a caller variant, named the 'Kawasaki bug', has been blamed for the spike successful cases.

The Kawasaki bug was archetypal identified successful Kawasaki, Japan successful 2014 and is precise easy spread.

Dr John Burke, main aesculapian serviceman astatine AXA Health, shared his expertise connected however to forestall the dispersed of the microorganism this winter, arsenic good arsenic the six cardinal symptoms to beryllium alert of.

He said: "Norovirusis an highly contagious microorganism that spreads done interaction and tin origin sickness and diarrhoea for those infected.

"If you go infected with norovirus it's indispensable to practise due hygiene and cleanliness. To debar spreading the microorganism further thoroughly disinfect immoderate surfaces you travel into interaction with portion infected and sterilise immoderate utensils, plates oregon cups that you usage whilst unwell.

"When infected with norovirus it is important that you debar preparing oregon touching nutrient oregon drinks for different radical to debar contamination."

As norovirus is highly contagious, if you go infected, you'll request to debar interaction with the nationalist for a minimum of 48hours aft your symptoms person subsided, warned Dr Burke.

He urged: "Staying astatine location whilst unwell with norovirus is important for minimising the further dispersed of the virus."

Six signs you could person norovirus

There are six cardinal symptoms to look retired for:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• High temperature
• Headaches
• Exhaustion

Symptoms tin usually beryllium managed astatine location and typically subside aft a fewer days erstwhile the microorganism passes done the body.

Over-the-counter medicines tin beryllium utilized to trim symptoms and you tin question proposal online oregon from your section pharmacist.

How to relieve norovirus symptoms

Dr Burke advised keeping meals bland to debar further upsetting your stomach.

He said: "If you are struggling to support nutrient down, effort tiny amounts of easy digestible foods specified arsenic toast and crackers."

And similar with immoderate unwellness with causes sickness, it's important to support fluid levels whilst unwell to forestall dehydration.

He explained: "Our bodies suffer a batch of fluids done vomiting and diarrhoea therefore, you indispensable beryllium regularly drinking wide fluids and electrolytes erstwhile you are unwell with norovirus."

The last happening you tin bash is marque definite you get plentifulness of remainder for a speedy recovery.

Dr Burke said: "It's champion to guarantee you are giving your assemblage capable clip (a minimum of 48 hours) to remainder and retrieve from the microorganism earlier returning backmost to enactment oregon school."