The NHS is warning people to stay at home as cases of the grim “winter vomiting bug” soar. Norovirus activity has been high this winter, with the latest figures showing the highest number of cases of the 2024/25 season so far.
Earlier this month, NHS chiefs said thousands of adult hospital beds were “closed” due to diarrhoea and vomiting bugs, like norovirus, with people urged not to visit medical settings if they suspect they have the illness.
In a new post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, NHS said: “Norovirus is a stomach bug that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can be very unpleasant, but usually goes away in about 2 days. If you catch it; stay home, rest and have plenty of fluids.”
Further advice in an accompanying link explains that the main symptoms are feeling sick, being sick, and diarrhoea. Sufferers, the NHS adds, may also have a high temperature, a headache, and aching arms and legs, and symptoms start suddenly within one to two days of being infected.
People are urged to stay off work or school until you have not been sick or experienced any diarrhoea for 48 hours – as prior to this is when you’re most infectious. People should also stay away from hospitals and care homes.
Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus. While the bug has some very unpleasant symptoms, it can usually be treated at home with rest and plenty of fluids.
You should call 111 if you’re worried about a baby aged under one, if your child stops breast or bottle feeding while they’re ill, if a child under five shows signs of dehydration, if you or your child still has signs of dehydration after using oral rehydration sachets, you or your child keep being sick and cannot keep fluid down, you or your child have bloody diarrhoea or bleeding from the bottom, and/or if you or your child have diarrhoea for more than seven days or vomiting for more than two days.
