Brits were today warned of an upsurge in a highly contagious winter vomiting bug.
Rates of norovirus, which kills up to 80 Brits every year, are more than two-and-a-half times higher that of the same time last year, fresh figures show.
Over 1,130 patients a day were in hospital in England with norovirus last week, up on the 898 logged a month ago — a rise of more than a quarter.
It marks a slight dip on the 1,160 seen in the previous week, the highest level ever seen in hospitals in England.
But officials today warned of a ‘potential second norovirus wave’, cautioning that people who have already had the highly contagious virus this winter may still be at risk of being infected again.
This is because a different, commonly seen variant, GII.4, is on the rise, separate UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows and having already had one type of norovirus does not fully protect against other strains.
The majority of people will not need to speak to a doctor about the infection. In most cases, it will clear up on its own.
But for those who are more vulnerable — typically the elderly, young and immunocompromised — it could lead to serious dehydration, resulting in hospitalisation.
Early signs of dehydration can include a dry mouth and throat, dizziness, fatigue, peeing less than usual and having sunken eyes.
For those who are vulnerable, dehydration can quickly turn deadly — as it impacts the delicate balance of salts in the blood that keep the organs functioning.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: ‘While it is good news norovirus cases dropped, they remain extremely close to the all-time high reported last week so we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing.
‘Hospitals remain close to capacity in part because of seasonal illnesses, and it is vital that people do everything they can to reduce the spread of what can be a deeply unpleasant illness.
‘To help stop the spread of norovirus, the medical advice is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days.
‘While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way — using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.’
Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, added: ‘These statistics show that we are still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service.’
According to the latest NHS weekly hospital figures, an average of 1,134 patients a day were in hospital last week, down slightly on the record high of 1,160 in the preview week.
But levels were two-and-a-half times the same point 12 months ago, when an average of 470 beds were filled by patients with diarrhoea and vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms.
It has been estimated that for every case of norovirus reported to national surveillance in the UK, there are roughly 288 in the community that go unreported.
Separate figures released by the UKHSA today showed laboratory confirmed reports of the vomiting bug were at the highest levels seen since the agency began reporting data this way in 2014.
‘Cases usually start to decline around this time of year as the weather gets warmer, but it is too soon to conclude whether or not norovirus has peaked this season,’ the body said.
The data also showed that a different, but commonly seen norovirus variant, GII.4, is now on the rise — representing 29 per cent of all cases compared to just 10 per cent three months ago.
By comparison, a second GII.17 variant which accounted for 76 per cent of cases in November, now represents around 59 per cent.
‘This means that people who have already had norovirus this season may catch it again, as having one genotype does not fully protect against the other,’ the UKHSA said.
‘However, at present there is no indication that either GII.17 or GII.4 leads to more severe illness.’
Health and social care secretary, Wes Streeting, today said: ‘These statistics show that we are still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service’
The bug is usually spread through close contact with someone who is infected, or by touching surfaces or objects, or eating food someone infected has touched.
Rest and having lots of fluid are often recommended by health professionals to help recover. Paracetamol may also aid a fever or aches and pains.
Many patients also ask doctors for antibiotics, but these are ineffective against viruses.
Amy Douglas, lead epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘Norovirus cases are still exceptionally high and we are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as hospitals and care homes.
‘Symptoms of norovirus can be more severe in older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised.
‘If you have diarrhoea and vomiting please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others as you can still pass on the virus.
‘Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop the infection from spreading.’
The NHS data also found there were a total of 96,807 patients in hospital each day last week.
Almost one in seven were taken up by patients who were medically fit to be discharged.
The health service also remains alarmingly close to capacity with 95.3 per cent of adult hospital beds occupied, the concerning data revealed today.
92 per cent is the point at which, experts say, performance of staff drops.
But surveillance data that monitors England’s flu outbreak, suggests hospital admissions have fallen once again, for the seventh week in a row.
An average of 1,656 patients were in hospital with flu last week, including 80 in critical care.
Just over 1,000 beds were also occupied by patients with Covid.
