Britons have been warned to brace for an alarming rise in the potentially deadly norovirus as the festive period approaches.
Rates of the fallow bug, which can also cause diarrhoea, are almost double pre-Covid levels for this time of year, new figures show.
Some 416 laboratory-confirmed reports have been recorded in England in the past two weeks. This is an increase from 216 for the same two weeks in 2019.
But cases are “likely to rise again as we head towards Christmas”, health chiefs predict.
Experts said a particularly unbridled variant now accounts for almost 90 per cent of all cases and urged Britons not to rely on alcohol gels to try to ‘kill’ the virus as they are not powerful enough.
According to figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the total number of reports this year (2,849) was also more than double what it was five years ago (1,208).
Cases have fallen slightly over the past two weeks, but scientists warned that the dip could simply be due to half of the cases and are likely to rise again.
Since the start of the 2024/2025 season, the number of reported norovirus outbreaks in hospitals is also 10 percent higher than the five-year average.
Some 416 laboratory-confirmed reports have been recorded in England in the past two weeks. This is an increase from 216 for the same two weeks in 2019
However, the actual number of cases across the country could be even higher.
This is because the figures are based on positive laboratory reports and NHS hospitals reporting suspected and confirmed outbreaks of norovirus.
Most infected suffer from nausea, diarrhea and vomiting and recover at home.
But norovirus could increase pressure on hospitals, as infected patients must be isolated in single rooms or wards closed to new patients to limit the spread.
Amy Douglas, epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘The school holidays have likely interrupted the upward trend we’ve been seeing in norovirus levels recently, but cases are likely to rise again as we head towards Christmas.
‘If you have diarrhea and vomiting, do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have disappeared and do not prepare food for others during that time.
‘If you are feeling unwell, do not visit people in hospitals and care homes to avoid passing on the infection in these settings.
‘Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces will also help prevent the spread of infection.
Norovirus can resemble the symptoms of Covid, with both viruses causing chills, fever and headache
‘Alcohol gels don’t kill norovirus, so don’t rely on them alone.’
The UKHSA noted that the rise in cases was largely driven by the variant known as GII.17.
The strain, which now makes up 87 percent of cases, has been nicknamed ‘Kawasaki’ after it was first discovered in the Japanese city in 2014.
It does not cause more severe symptoms than previous outbreaks, but it is believed to be much more contagious.
Responding to a Mail on Sunday column by GP Dr Ellie Cannon earlier this month, readers wrote in detail about how they had been affected.
A 69-year-old woman described suffering from “the most aggressive diarrhea and illness” after babysitting her granddaughter. Another said her 29-year-old son was “completely crushed” by the virus.
Paul Pardon, 73, says he contracted the ‘unbearable’ virus after returning from holiday.
“It came out of nowhere,” says the former IT consultant from Reading. ‘I couldn’t get more than a few meters from the toilet before I had to run back again.
‘This went on for days. During that time I couldn’t eat everything. I also had a terrible fever and was shaking constantly.’
The majority of people do not need to talk to a doctor about a norovirus infection.
In most cases it goes away on its own.
Rest and drinking plenty of fluids are often recommended by health heads to help recovery. Paracetamol can also help with fever or aches and pains.
Rehydration drinks, such as Dioralyte, which replace both crucial salts and water, can be purchased from a pharmacist.
Parents are advised not to give soft drinks or fruit juice to children with norovirus, as this can worsen the diarrhea.
Many patients also ask doctors for antibiotics, but these do not work against viruses.
However, patients with particularly severe projectile vomiting and diarrhea can be prescribed anti-illness medication by their GP.