Easily spread
Onset is very sudden with vomiting and diarrhoea.Some people may also feel feverish.Illness can occur at any age because immunity to it is not long-lasting.It is not normally dangerous but the very young and very old are most at risk of complications from dehydration.The HPA said they had expected a higher number of recorded cases as methods used for detecting norovirus in the laboratory had improved.But they advised people to practise good hygiene including hand washing and disinfecting contaminated surfaces if anyone has become ill.Food preparation should also be avoided until 48 hours after symptoms have disappeared.There is no specific treatment for norovirus other than letting the illness run its course but it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially in the very young or elderly.Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said the advice issued last week on staying at home if you become ill and not rushing back to work was helping to slow the spread of the illness. "Anecdotally the pressure seems to be coming off - we're delighted that people are following the advice and taking the pressure off the health service."
As in the days of Noah....