OUTBREAKS of norovirus have shot up by two-thirds in a week in care homes, health chiefs have warned.  

There were 40 outbreaks of the highly infectious virus, which causes sickness and diarrhoea, in care homes last week. For comparison, 24 were logged in the previous seven-day spell.

A rise in norovirus cases among care home residents is usually followed by a spike in hospital outbreaks, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned. 

There were 135 norovirus outbreaks – defined as at least two cases – in schools and nurseries in the four weeks to February 20. This was 48 per cent more than normal.

Norovirus infections were suppressed during Covid as a result of measures brought in to fight the pandemic, resulting in reduced immunity against the bug.  

Health chiefs warned that, as a result, ‘it is possible that unusual or out of season increases could be seen in the coming months’.  

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10573489/Health-chiefs-issue-norovirus-warning-cases-winter-vomiting-bug-shoot-up.html