Health officials are warning the NHS is continuing to be swamped with patients suffering from norovirus, with rates close to a record high.
Laboratory confirmed cases of the infection are almost 30% higher than a fortnight ago and 168% higher than the five-season average for this time of year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed.
NHS England warned that the number of beds taken up with norovirus patients is 150% higher than last year, and visits to the NHS web page on norovirus have increased 40% in the past week to almost 75,000 – double the same week last year.
Care homes are being hit particularly hard, with the highest rates being seen in the over 65s, public health teams said.
UKHSA is also warning of a potential second wave after an apparent shift in the strains of norovirus now circulating.
Most activity this winter has been linked to a recently emerged GII.17 genotype but the latest data suggests another commonly seen strain, GII.4 is now increasing.
It means patients who have already had norovirus this year could be at risk of catching the infection again. There is no indication that either strain leads to more severe illness, UKHSA said.
Rotavirus activity had also increased in recent weeks, the figures show, but is within expected levels.
UKHSA lead epidemiologist Amy Douglas said: ‘Norovirus levels are still exceptionally high and now with multiple genotypes spreading at the same time, people could end up getting infected more than once this season.
‘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.’
She urged people with diarrhoea and vomiting to not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.
Public messages are also being sent out to remind people that alcohol gels do not kill norovirus and they should wash their hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop infections from spreading.
NHS England national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said that we can be ‘under no illusions’ about the ‘continued’ pressure NHS staff are still facing.
He added: ‘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.]
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting 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.’
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