Norovirus returns: advice is to stay away from GP

After Halloween and Bonfire Night, we have the return of another, much less welcome, winter tradition: the norovirus. Or, as The Times reports, “Tis the season for winter vomiting bug”. The body responsible for public health in this country, Public Health England, has issued a bulletin reminding everyone experiencing symptoms of norovirus to stay at home and to telephone 111 for advice, if necessary. Symptoms of norovirus typically include forceful vomiting and watery diarrhoea.   It's vital that people don’t visit GP surgeries, hospitals, schools and care homes if they think they may be infected. For the vast majority of people, the norovirus is self-limiting (it gets better by itself) but vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and people with a pre-existing illness or weakened immune system could be at risk of complications if exposed to the virus.   What is norovirus? Norovirus is the most common stomach bug in the UK, and has a peak season during the winter months (roughly around October/November to March/April). It causes vomiting and diarrhoea, with symptoms lasting around one to two days, though the severity and duration of symptoms can vary between individuals. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus, meaning that only a few viral particles are required to cause infection. It is passed on by virus particles picked up on the hands being transferred to the mouth (e.g. through touching contaminated surfaces or eating contaminated food). It can also be spread b...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: QA articles Medical practice Source Type: news