‘Winter vomiting disease’ is ‘highly contagious’

Norovirus: How to clean up after someone who vomits

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Also known as norovirus, the condition comes about with cold and flu each winter.

On norovirus, the NHS says: “It affects people of all ages and can be spread very easily through water, food, air and contact.

“Symptoms include vomiting, projectile vomiting, diarrhoea and raised temperatures.”

However, should these symptoms arise, the NHS say: “please do not visit the hospital”.

Why?

One of the reasons is because the virus is highly contagious and could put vulnerable people already in hospital at risk of becoming more ill.

Furthermore, norovirus can be very easily treated at home. Although it is unpleasant, symptoms can pass within around two days.

How to treat it

Treating norovirus is a relatively simple exercise. The NHS says you need to stay at home, rest and drink plenty of water.

How not to treat it

The NHS also advises avoiding fruit juice and/or fizzy drinks as they can make the diarrhoea that you suffer from worse.

Norovirus is highly contagious. For this reason, those with the condition should self-isolate to prevent it from spreading.

Under their “How you can help” section the NHS added guidance about diarrhoea and vomiting.

They say: “Please do not visit the hospital until you have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

“If you have an urgent appointment or it is essential to visit a friend/relative, speak to the department manager or ward sister/manager first.”

Furthermore, they also add: “Do not visit the hospital if you are living in the same household as someone who has symptoms of norovirus or flu.

“Catch it, bin it, kill it – if you have flu-like symptoms, use tissues when you sneeze and to blow your nose, then discard tissues into waste bins immediately. Wash your hands thoroughly after.”

Is norovirus likely to be worse this winter?

This winter is set to be the first since 2019 where the UK faces a potentially uninterrupted seasonal period – and one bereft of Covid restrictions.

However, the impact of years without a ‘traditional’ flu season means that immunity within the population is low.

And this could cause problems all of its own.

Why?

Because immunity is low, it means that those who do get flu could experience more severe symptoms and some may require hospital treatment.

This will put greater pressure on the NHS which is beginning to face the impact of a sixth wave of COVID-19 which started earlier this month.

Together, seasonal illnesses and COVID-19, which are expected to peak before December, will make an already difficult time of the year even harder.

Even though self-isolating with norovirus may not feel it makes a difference, this winter it really could.

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