The UK is being hit by a norovirus wave – and it could get worse, experts have suggested.
Cases of the winter fever bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are 10 per cent higher than pre-Covid levels at this time of year.
Health chiefs fear a further surge in norovirus will put even more pressure on the “fragile” NHS, which is grappling with its worst ever winter, with hours of ambulance waits and huge emergency queues.
The “very worrying” rise could also exacerbate problems with backlogs, available hospital beds and the absence of NHS workers, doctors warned today.
364 outbreaks of the highly contagious virus were reported in the last two weeks of 2022, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed.
Around 364 norovirus outbreaks were reported in the last two weeks of 2022, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
By comparison, only 320 registered in the previous two weeks, an increase of 14 percent.
This was a similar number compared to the average in the same period before the pandemic.
But the actual number of cases – which only cover England despite being recorded by the UKHSA – will be even higher.
Most of those infected experience nausea, diarrhea and vomiting and recover at home.
The UKHSA data, which is released weekly, is based on positive laboratory reports and NHS hospitals reporting suspected and confirmed norovirus outbreaks.
Leading experts told MailOnline that Covid restrictions may be partly to blame for the current rise, as fewer people than usual have been exposed to norovirus since the pandemic began.
According to their theory, after two years of low exposure, our bodies may be less equipped to fight the infection.
The same reason is partly attributed to the unprecedented increase in scarlet fever cases, which exploded last year to the highest number since the 1950s.
But others warned it could be a blip.
Professor Kevin Fenton, chair of the Department of Public Health, told MailOnline: “During the Covid pandemic we have seen the transmission of norovirus as well as other infectious diseases such as influenza, a decrease due to social distancing measures, a greater focus on washing hands, wearing a mask and other preventive measures Measures.
“As Covid restrictions are lifted, we are likely to see infection rates from other viruses return to pre-pandemic levels.”
Professor Francois Balloux, an infectious disease expert at University College London, said the number of cases “is not unlikely to continue to rise in the short term”.
He added: “Immunity to norovirus is quite short-lived – and fewer people than usual have been exposed to norovirus since the pandemic began.”
The rise in cases could also be “disruptive” to the “entire health and welfare system,” medics warned.
Dr Tim Cooksley, president of the Society for Acute Medicine, told MailOnline: “The NHS is still under a lot of pressure and things remain balanced as we try to manage the pressures facing colleagues and look forward to preparing for the difficult winter months ahead.
“An increase in norovirus cases will exacerbate problems in the health and welfare system, given the impact it will have if it ends up in hospitals.”
He added: “It’s about bed closures, infections from seriously ill people and staff shortages. Therefore, given the fragile situation, it is very worrying that the number of cases of the virus is increasing.”
COVID: The number of people infected with Covid occupying hospital beds in England fell by 11 per cent from 9,414 in the week ending January 4 to 8,404 in the seven days ending January 11. NHS data shows the number peaked at 9,533 on December 29 and has since fallen by 19 per cent to 7,743
Absenteeism among NHS workers in England fell in the week ending January 8. On average, about 57,528 doctors were sick each day, three percent less than 59,313 a week earlier. Around 6,600 of the absences were each caused by Covid, up from around 7,200 the previous week
Around 95 per cent of all reported norovirus outbreaks have also occurred in care homes, UKHSA confirmed.
An increase in nursing home cases often precedes an increase in hospital admissions, the government agency said.
“It is likely that unusual norovirus activity will continue into the 2022/2023 season,” health chiefs added.
Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, told MailOnline that while norovirus outbreaks are “common in care homes”, cases or an outbreak in a hospital “can be very disruptive and require significant additional infection control “. Dimensions’.
He added: “Pre-pandemic research suggested that norovirus was responsible for the disruption of 57,800 patients admitted to hospital each year.
“Scientists have found that this represents the full daily capacity of NHS hospital beds in England, which were unavailable for two days.
“In addition to Covid, influenza, strep A and the now rising levels of norovirus, there are a variety of infectious diseases of concern in the healthcare sector. This in turn leads to further backlogs in other areas of health care.’
However, Dr Simon Clarke, an infectious disease expert at the University of Reading, said it was “normal for norovirus infections to increase during the winter months”.
While the number of infections is “slightly higher than the five-year average, other causes of abdominal pain appear to be lower, so it could be an outlier,” he told MailOnline.
“It’s a reportable infection, but many people don’t feel the need to see their GP about it, so it can be difficult to get accurate numbers,” he noted.
Dr. Kathleen O’Reilly, an infectious disease expert at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, also told MailOnline that a 10 per cent increase in reported infections was “well within the expected variation for a pathogen” given surveillance systems “dependent”. on reported outbreaks of an overburdened healthcare system”.
She added: “The most sensible way to avoid contracting norovirus is to wash your hands with soap after using the toilet and before preparing food. People should do this every day, regardless of what the surveillance data says tell us.”
The virus is mainly transmitted by touching objects contaminated with the virus and then touching the mouth.
It can get on surfaces – or splash onto surfaces – through vomit or fecal particles from an infected person’s coughs and sneezes.
Health chiefs are advising people to stay at home if they have symptoms and not to return to work or send children to school or daycare for 48 hours after symptoms subside.
People are also being told not to visit elderly relatives if they are ill, especially if they are in a care home or hospital.
Richard Elson, head of risk and response at UKHSA’s gastrointestinal infections and food safety division, said: “Laboratory reports for norovirus at the end of 2022 were higher than we would expect at this time of year.”
While most people fully recover within a day or two, “it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, especially in the very young, the elderly, or those with compromised immune systems,” he added.
“Be sure to wash your hands and disinfect all surfaces after any illness. By taking these steps, you prevent the transmission of the virus.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
