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| 'Be vigilant' over vomiting bug | 'Be vigilant' over vomiting bug |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The winter vomiting bug could spread rapidly across England unless people are sensible and stay at home when they have the virus, a leading GP warns. | The winter vomiting bug could spread rapidly across England unless people are sensible and stay at home when they have the virus, a leading GP warns. |
| Many hospitals have already been forced to close wards to try to control outbreaks of norovirus. | Many hospitals have already been forced to close wards to try to control outbreaks of norovirus. |
| Experts say norovirus is on the up but this is not unusual for the season, despite media reports of a crisis. | Experts say norovirus is on the up but this is not unusual for the season, despite media reports of a crisis. |
| People should stay off work for 48 hours after the symptoms go, says The Royal College of GPs' chairman. | People should stay off work for 48 hours after the symptoms go, says The Royal College of GPs' chairman. |
| Generally you do not need to go and see your doctor Professor Steve Field, RCGP chairman | Generally you do not need to go and see your doctor Professor Steve Field, RCGP chairman |
| They should also stay away from doctors surgeries and hospitals to avoid spreading it to others, advises Professor Steve Field. | They should also stay away from doctors surgeries and hospitals to avoid spreading it to others, advises Professor Steve Field. |
| Last year more than 3m people had the bug, which also causes diarrhoea and is spread through contaminated surfaces. | Last year more than 3m people had the bug, which also causes diarrhoea and is spread through contaminated surfaces. |
| Although unpleasant, the illness is not usually dangerous and people usually recover fully within two to three days. | Although unpleasant, the illness is not usually dangerous and people usually recover fully within two to three days. |
| The very young and very old are most at risk of complications from dehydration. | The very young and very old are most at risk of complications from dehydration. |
| Winter vomiting | Winter vomiting |
| The bug thrives in confined environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships, but can be beaten by good hygiene. | The bug thrives in confined environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships, but can be beaten by good hygiene. |
| It can be spread by contact with an infected person, through contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, such as door handles. | It can be spread by contact with an infected person, through contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, such as door handles. |
| Professor Field said: "If people heed the advice then we can minimise the number of people who will get it. | Professor Field said: "If people heed the advice then we can minimise the number of people who will get it. |
| "If people are going down with diarrhoea and vomiting they should stay at home and drink plenty of fluids. It will not last long - for the majority of people it lasts a day or so. NOROVIRUS OUTBREAKS Areas with hospitals that have closed wards or restricted admissions to contain norovirus over the last couple of weeks BathBedfordBristolCarlisleDorsetHampshireNorfolk and NorwichNorth CumbriaSurreySwindonWigton and AlstonWorcestershire | |
| "Obviously we worry about very young babies, the very old and people who are immunocompromised, but generally you do not need to go and see your doctor." | "Obviously we worry about very young babies, the very old and people who are immunocompromised, but generally you do not need to go and see your doctor." |
| He said anyone who got sick should make sure they wash their hands thoroughly to prevent spreading the bug to others. | He said anyone who got sick should make sure they wash their hands thoroughly to prevent spreading the bug to others. |
| "If someone went to the toilet and did not wash their hands properly before touching a door handle and then you touched it, you could catch norovirus. The droplets stay on door handles and other objects for many hours. | "If someone went to the toilet and did not wash their hands properly before touching a door handle and then you touched it, you could catch norovirus. The droplets stay on door handles and other objects for many hours. |
| "But norovirus is killed by disinfectant." | "But norovirus is killed by disinfectant." |
| Professor Field said GPs and NHS Direct had also been seeing more people with flu symptoms, and said there could be a flu outbreak around Christmas - something far more worrying than norovirus. | |
| The Health Protection Agency has seen an increase in reports of norovirus, but says this is typical for the season. | The Health Protection Agency has seen an increase in reports of norovirus, but says this is typical for the season. |
| A spokeswoman said: "There is no evidence to suggest that activity this year will be any greater than last year." | A spokeswoman said: "There is no evidence to suggest that activity this year will be any greater than last year." |
| Since July there have been a total of 1,575 confirmed norovirus cases, in comparison with 1,920 over the same period last year and 1,075 over the average of that period since 2005-2007. | Since July there have been a total of 1,575 confirmed norovirus cases, in comparison with 1,920 over the same period last year and 1,075 over the average of that period since 2005-2007. |
| But the HPA says this reflects only a proportion of the actual number of cases which will be seen in the population as the illness only tends to be of a short duration and confirmation requires a stool sample to be sent via their GP. | But the HPA says this reflects only a proportion of the actual number of cases which will be seen in the population as the illness only tends to be of a short duration and confirmation requires a stool sample to be sent via their GP. |