Symptoms that mean 'stay home' as 'extremely contagious' virus sweeps UK

A caller strain of norovirus has deed the UK and anyone who gets it is advised to enactment distant from others for 48 hours

A caller virulent strain of the norovirus, often referred to arsenic the 'winter vomiting bug', is sweeping the country. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that the Kawasaki strain, besides referred to arsenic saltation GII.17, present accounts for 70% of cases.

Dr John Burke from AXA Health warned earlier this week of the virus' "extremely contagious" nature. Amid surging cases, which person reportedly doubled since past twelvemonth according to AXA Health, sufferers are being advised to hunker down astatine location and shun societal interaction for 2 days post-symptoms. This 'Kawasaki bug', archetypal detected successful the metropolis of Kawasaki, Japan, backmost successful 2014, has rapidly established itself arsenic the predominant strain.

Gauri Godbole, lawman manager of gastrointestinal infections astatine the UKHSA, said: “If you person diarrhoea and vomiting, bash not instrumentality to work, schoolhouse oregon nursery until 48 hours aft your symptoms person stopped and don't hole nutrient for others successful that clip either. If you are unwell, debar visiting radical successful hospitals and attraction homes to forestall passing connected the corruption successful these settings.”

Dr Burke, who is main aesculapian serviceman astatine AXA Health and has been a GP for much than a 4th of a century, said: “Norovirus is an highly contagious microorganism that spreads done interaction and tin origin sickness and diarrhoea for those infected. Often referred to arsenic the ‘winter vomiting bug’ cases of Norovirus soar implicit autumn and wintertime arsenic much radical walk clip indoors, successful adjacent proximity to each other.”

NHS symptoms of norovirus

The NHS says that norovirus, besides called the "winter vomiting bug", is simply a tummy bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. It tin beryllium precise unpleasant, but usually goes distant successful astir 2 days.

The main symptoms of norovirus are:

• feeling sick (nausea)
• diarrhoea
• being sick (vomiting)

You whitethorn besides have:

• a precocious temperature
• a headache
• aching arms and legs

The symptoms commencement abruptly wrong a time oregon 2 of being infected.

How to dainty norovirus

You tin usually dainty yourself oregon your kid astatine home. The astir important happening is to remainder and person tons of fluids to debar dehydration.

You volition usually commencement to consciousness amended successful 2 oregon 3 days, the NHS says. Find retired however to dainty diarrhoea and vomiting successful children and adults.

The NHS adds: "Stay disconnected schoolhouse oregon enactment until you person not been sick oregon had diarrhoea for astatine slightest 2 days. This is erstwhile you're astir infectious. Do not sojourn hospitals oregon attraction homes during this time."

How norovirus is spread

The NHS says norovirus tin dispersed precise easily. You tin drawback norovirus from:

• close interaction with idiosyncratic with norovirus
• touching surfaces oregon objects that person the microorganism connected them, past touching your mouth
• eating nutrient that's been prepared oregon handled by idiosyncratic with norovirus

Washing your hands often with soap and h2o is the champion mode to halt it spreading. Alcohol manus gels bash not termination norovirus.

Get proposal from 111 present if:

• you're disquieted astir a babe nether 12 months
• your kid stops bosom oregon vessel feeding portion they're ill
• a kid nether 5 years has signs of dehydration – specified arsenic less bedewed nappies
• you oregon your kid (over 5 years) inactive person signs of dehydration aft utilizing oral rehydration sachets
• you oregon your kid support being sick and cannot support fluid down
• you oregon your kid person bloody diarrhoea oregon bleeding from the bottom
• you oregon your kid person diarrhoea for much than 7 days oregon vomiting for much than 2 days

111 volition archer you what to do. They tin put a telephone telephone from a caregiver oregon doc if you request one. Go to 111.nhs.uk oregon telephone 111.

Call 999 oregon spell to A&E if you oregon your child:

• vomit humor oregon person vomit that looks similar crushed coffee
• have greenish vomit (adults)
• have yellow-green oregon greenish vomit (children)
• might person swallowed thing poisonous
• have a stiff cervix and symptom erstwhile looking astatine agleam lights
• have a sudden, terrible headache oregon tummy ache

The NHS advises radical not to thrust to A&E. Instead, inquire idiosyncratic to thrust you oregon telephone 999 and inquire for an ambulance. Bring immoderate medicines you instrumentality with you.