Norovirus cases are at their highest number for more than a decade in the UK. Hospital beds are filling up with patients while care homes have also been heavily affected by the outbreak.
Laboratory reports of the highly infectious stomach bug are more than double the five-season average before the coronavirus pandemic, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). It is easily spread through contact with someone with the infection or with contaminated surfaces, reports Manchester Live.
But what should you be looking out for if you think you might have caught the virus, also known as the 'winter vomiting bug'? What are the symptoms of norovirus?
What can you expect if you have norovirus? How long will it last and what should you do to ensure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible?
According to the NHS, symptoms of the stomach bug start suddenly, within one to two days of being infected. They include:
– Feeling sick (nausea)
– Diarrhoea
– Being sick (vomiting)
– A high temperature
– A headache
– Aching arms and legs
The NHS advises consuming plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and getting lots of rest. You should start to feel better in two to three days.
Outbreaks reported in care home settings increased from 47 in the week beginning February 6 to 54 in the week beginning February 13 – representing the highest number of outbreaks reported in a week so far this season.
