The National Medical Director for NHS England is issuing a stark and ‘vital’ warning over norovirus which is rapidly spreading across the UK. Just this week, Amy Douglas, the lead epidemiologist at UKHSA (UK Health Security Agency), stressed that “norovirus cases are still exceptionally high”.
She urged people to avoid public places for two days if they have symptoms. And the government has now warned of a potential second norovirus wave
Norovirus is currently putting a strain on the NHS, with the number of hospital beds occupied by infected patients nearly 150% higher than this time last year, according to new figures released this week. The total remains near record levels, with an average of 1,134 patients hospitalised daily with norovirus last week.
While this marks a slight drop from the previous week’s 1,160, it is still more than double the 470 recorded during the same period last year. It comes as visits to the NHS released figures which shows norovirus cases have surged by 40% in the last week – from 53,052 (12-18 February) to 74,324 (19-25 February). This is more than double the number of visits for the same week in 2023/24 (35,522).
Because of this, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, said: “While it is good news norovirus cases dropped, they remain extremely close to the all-time high reported last week so we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing. Hospitals remain close to capacity in part because of seasonal illnesses, and it is vital that people do everything they can to reduce the spread of what can be a deeply unpleasant illness.
“To help stop the spread of norovirus, the medical advice is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days. While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”
Adding to the message, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, stated: “These statistics show that we are still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service. We have taken important steps to reduce winter pressures this year, including getting doctors back on the frontline, rather than the picket line, and introducing the country’s first RSV vaccination scheme.
“Through the government’s Plan for Change, we will deliver the investment and reform required to turn our health service around, so it will be there for all of us when we need it, once again.”
Speaking earlier Amy Douglas has warned some people may get more severe symptoms than others such as “older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised.” She warned: “If you have diarrhoea and vomiting please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others as you can still pass on the virus.”
Concluding her advice, she says that people need to wash their hands as gels won’t cut it. She said: “Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop the infection from spreading.”