A HEALTH agency is advising people with norovirus symptoms to avoid visiting hospitals this ‘winter vomiting season.’

With the festive period underway, Public Health England is reminding everyone experiencing symptoms of norovirus to stay at home and to telephone NHS 111 for advice.

Experts say it is vital that people who may have the virus do not visit hospitals, care homes or their GP surgery.

Norovirus infection is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhoea in the UK, affecting around three million people every year.

The symptoms of norovirus are very distinctive: people often report a sudden onset of nausea followed by projectile vomiting and diarrhoea. Some people also experience headaches, mild temperature and stomach cramps.

There is no treatment for the virus but it is important to keep hydrated to combat the loss of fluids.

Most people will recover within a few days and there are no long-term effects.

The illness is highly infectious and great care needs to be taken to prevent its spread. When introduced to hospitals, residential care homes and other establishments where people live or work together in close proximity it can have major consequences such as the closure of hospital wards to new admissions, NHS staff going off work sick and patient appointments being postponed.

Consultant in communicable disease control for the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Public Health England centre Dr Toyin Ejidokun said: “Outbreaks of norovirus infection are common as winter approaches. However, the impact on individuals and care settings, such as hospitals and residential care homes, can be limited to some extent, by taking some simple actions.

“In hospitals, it is necessary to isolate individual cases and partial closures of wards can be used as measures taken to contain the infection and stop it spreading.

“There are also things that people can do to protect themselves and others from catching norovirus infection.”

The advice for people with symptoms is:

• Stay away from work, school or college until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours

• Do not handle or prepare food for other people until you have been symptom free for a minimum period of 48 hours

• Do not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes to avoid introducing the infection to environments where it could spread easily and put vulnerable people at greater risk

• Do not attend social gatherings until you have been free of all symptoms for at least 48 hours

• Do not visit your GP surgery or local A&E Unit. You will recover naturally without treatment, but it is important to rest and take plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids

• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly