Winter Bug Outbreak: Over 666 Thousand Infected
Winter vomiting bug has arrived earlier than expected. On the latest count by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the number of people affected by the bug has skyrocketed to 666,144.
On Monday, the number of confirmed cases reached 2,313 – greater than the recorded incidents last year. According to the HPA, there was a 64% increase in the prevalence of winter vomiting virus.
The agency could not explain the cause for this. But on their official statement, HPA said the virus has always been “unpredictable”.
"One thing we do know is that every year we will see a large amount of norovirus activity because it is highly contagious," says Dr Bob Adak, head of gastrointestinal diseases at the HPA.
Thousands of people have already been hospitalised due to winter vomiting. There have been 53 outbreaks at the NHS trusts, and 45 hospitals had to close wards while deep cleaning is on-going.
The virus has also affected many front-line health workers which made the situation more difficult as health centres were badly understaffed.
Experts say the problem will worsen over the winter.
“No-one can predict what it’s going to do except that we are going to have a reasonably hard time of it, I am sure. It would be grossly optimistic to suggest otherwise,” says Professor Hugh Pennington of the University of Aberdeen in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Most common winter bug in UK
Norovirus, commonly known as winter vomiting bug, is the most common viral disease in Britain, affecting people of all ages. The virus is highly contagious and is known to be the most common cause of gastroenteritis.
Symptoms include extreme vomiting and diarrhoea that normally leads to dehydration. Some people also experience headache, fever and aching limbs. Symptoms begin after a day or two of being infected with the bug and normally last for several days.
Children and elderly are most vulnerable to the virus, and they usually make up the majority of those admitted to hospitals.
The NHS said they are well-prepared for the spike in winter health problems. They also suggest anyone who has contracted the bug to call either the NHS directly or their local GPs.
What do you do if you have winter bug?
It is important that you drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. If you have fever and pain, medication is highly advisable. You should also eat only the foods that are easy to digest. Experts also discourage going to the doctor as much as possible because the bug is contagious and there is nothing they can do while you have it. However, you need to contact your GP to seek professional advice. In serious cases, hospitalisation is inevitable.
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Source of this article:
Cases of winter vomiting virus top 666,000
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