HPA warns of increasing norovirus activity

9 December 2010

Since the beginning of November the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has recorded 43 outbreaks of norovirus in hospitals of which 39 have led to ward closures.  This is almost 50 per cent more than the number recorded in October.

Although people can suffer from norovirus at any time of the year, activity increases in the winter months with the majority of cases occurring from around October to April.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by contact with an infected person; by consuming contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. The virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools, cruise ships, nursing and residential homes and hotels. 

Its symptoms include a sudden onset of vomiting - which can be projectile in nature - and/or diarrhoea - which may be profuse and watery. Some people may also have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps. The illness usually completely resolves in one or two days and there are no long term effects.  

John Harris, a HPA epidemiologist specialising in norovirus said: "Data from the HPA hospital norovirus reporting system shows the number of outbreaks reported in hospitals over the past month have increased by 50 per cent over the previous month.  Laboratory reports of norovirus have doubled in November compared to October which means that the norovirus season is now well under way. Hospital outbreak reporting is a voluntary system and aims to provide a snap shot of activity within the NHS.  This is a useful tool for health care professionals to understand what is happening both nationally and within  their region. 

"Norovirus comes on fairly suddenly, with little warning and is highly contagious.  Anyone who thinks they may have it should not to go to their doctor's surgery or A&E as this could spread the illness to vulnerable people and healthcare workers. This is particularly important in hospitals as norovirus outbreaks can lead to the ward closures and severe disruption to hospital services."

Dr Bob Adak, head of epidemiological services in the gastrointestinal diseases department at the HPA, said: "Every year millions of people will be affected by a bout of norovirus and for most people it will be an unpleasant but short lived illness lasting around two days.

"There is no specific treatment for norovirus other than to let the illness run its course.  People who are unwell should ensure they take plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids and it's particularly important for those caring for young children or the elderly to ensure that they are well hydrated.

"The first port of call if someone has symptoms consistent with norovirus should be to call NHS Direct or their local GP practice for advice."

Ends

Advice for the public when managing a bout of norovirus:

• Do not visit your GP surgery or local A&E Unit. Norovirus infection is a self-limiting illness and you will recover naturally without treatment. It is, however, important to take plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids. 
• Use NHS Direct's new diarrhoea and vomiting online health and symptom checker, to get advice on how to manage your symptoms at home or help to access the most appropriate health service.
• Wash hands thoroughly and regularly at all times, but particularly after using the toilet and before eating.
• Do not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes as there is a real risk that you would introduce the infection putting vulnerable people at risk.

Data from the number of calls for vomiting to NHS Direct have now exceeded the threshold level consistently for the last three weeks indicating that levels of norovirus is increasing across the UK. The 'threshold' level is 4.8 per cent of total calls for two consecutive weeks.
Over the next month NHS Direct will be adding to its suite of online health and symptom checkers covering a wide range of symptoms. These can be accessed at www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect. NHS Direct's initial assessment symptom checker is now available on web-enabled mobile phones. Just type in mobile.nhsdirect.nhs.uk to any web browser.
Hospital outbreaks

The figures reported above form part of the Hospital norovirus reporting system which is a voluntary system and is therefore only able to provide a snapshot of the total amount of norovirus activity within hospitals. Owing to this comparisons between regions is not possible.

107 Trusts in total who have reported to the scheme.
This breaks down as:
92 Acute care Trusts and
15  community Trusts
Hospitals have standard procedures when dealing with norovirus outbreaks and these were compiled in collaboration with the Hospital Infection Society, Infection Control Nurses Association and the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 
Activities would include:

• Rapid disinfection and cleaning
• Cohorting patients who are ill
• Reducing the number of staff who go into the affected area to reduce the risk of the infection spreading
• Non essential staff should be excluded from affected clinical areas 
• Wards should be closed to new admissions to prevent the introduction of further susceptible individuals

For more information or for media enquiries only please telephone:

Louise Brown   020 8327 7080
Eleanor Bunch   020 8327 7751
Kathryn Swan   020 8327 7097
Georgina Fletcher  020 8327 6690
Emma Gilgunn-Jones  020 8327 6647

Last reviewed: 9 December 2010