UKHSA issues urgent 48-hour 'stay at home' warning for anyone with 7 symptoms

UKHSA issues urgent 48-hour 'stay at home' warning for anyone with 7 symptoms People have been told to stay at home for two days if they think they have bug as experts warn 'hand sanitiser won't work' Health chiefs have issued an urgent alert as cases of a debilitating bug rise. People are being told to stay at home for 48-hours if they have developed some key symptoms of the infection - and warned that using sanitiser will not kill it. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, the UKHSA has warned the number of people developing norovirus has recently risen. It says there have been a total of 2,111 laboratory reports of people with the infection so far in the current season - an increase of 16.8% on the five season average for the same period. While it still remains within expected levels, the agency has alerted people that the infection has begun to increase with 257 reports over the two weeks up to last week. And it has shared information of what people should do if they have any of the symptoms of the bug. Norovirus is often dubbed the winter vomiting bug despite being able to catch it throughout the year. It is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea that spreads easily through communities, making outbreaks common in settings where individuals have close contact such as hospitals, care homes, cruise ships, schools and nurseries. The virus infects the stomach and intestines, and is also known as a gastrointestinal virus, gastric flu or a stomach bug. You can catch norovirus more than once in a short time period because multiple types (or genotypes) of norovirus circulate at any given time and while you may develop limited immunity to one strain you can still be infected by a different one soon after. The UKHSA previously warned: "Norovirus is incredibly infectious, so if you're feeling unwell stay home for 48 hours after symptoms stop as you are still infectious during this time." It also warned at the time that hand sanitiser will not work to prevent the illness. To prevent the virus's transmission, the health service recommends those experiencing symptoms should avoid attending school, work, hospitals, and care homes until 48 hours after the symptoms have ended. Apart from self-isolating whilst feeling unwell, the NHS sets out several steps to limit the infection's spread, suggesting that you should: - Wash your hands with soap and water (alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus) after using the toilet or changing nappies - Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing, serving or eating food - Wash clothes and bedding that has faeces or vomit on it at a 60C wash and separately from other laundry - Clean toilet seats, flush handles, taps and bathroom door handles - Avoid contact with others as much as possible If you exhibit any symptoms, the health body advises: - Do not go to school, nursery or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for two days - Do not visit others in hospitals or places like care homes until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for two days If you or your child have diarrhoea for more than seven days or vomiting for more than two days, you should call 111. According to the NHS norovirus symptoms can appear "suddenly" and usually include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. It adds: "It can be very unpleasant, but usually gets better in about 2 days." Symptoms of norovirus The NHS says the main symptoms of norovirus usually start suddenly and may include: - feeling sick - being sick (vomiting) - diarrhoea You may also have: - a high temperature - a headache - tummy pain - body aches and pains How to treat norovirus yourself The NHS also explains what to do if you or your child have norovirus. It says: "You can usually treat it at home. You'll usually start to feel better in 2 to 3 days. Diarrhoea and vomiting can usually be treated at home. The most important thing is to have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration." Ensure our latest health news always appears at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings Do: - stay at home and get plenty of rest - drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash – take small sips if you feel sick - carry on breast or bottle feeding your baby – if they're being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual - give babies on formula or solid foods small sips of water between feeds - eat when you feel able to – it may help to avoid foods that are fatty or spicy - take paracetamol if you're in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving it to your child Don't: - do not have fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhoea worse - do not make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength - do not give children under 12 medicine to stop diarrhoea - do not give aspirin to children under 16