Overview
- The agency issued the warning on February 3 via social media, telling anyone with symptoms to stay home until 48 hours after they stop.
- Infection rates are highest among people aged 65 and over and children under five, with more hospital outbreaks reported and indications that the GII.4 strain is now predominant.
- Laboratory reports for January 12–25 were 73.8% above the five-season average and 18.3% higher than the previous fortnight.
- Typical illness features sudden vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea, sometimes a high temperature, headache and aching limbs, with vomiting usually resolving in 1–2 days and diarrhoea in 5–7.
- Public-health advice stresses soap-and-water handwashing, 60°C laundering and bleach-based cleaning, avoiding work, school, food preparation and visits to hospitals or care homes until 48 hours after recovery, and notes alcohol gels do not kill norovirus.