You thought the UK Norovirus Epidemic was bad? Meet its bigger - and
uglier - sister*

By ISLA WHITCROFT -
The Daily Mail

The season for winter illness is upon us and the UK is in the grip of an
outbreak of the highly infectious stomach bug, norovirus.

The bug, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, can occur all year round,
but is most often seen in winter.

This year the outbreak has been particularly bad - the worst for five
years - and is predicted to peak at around 200,000 cases a week.

Dozens of hospital wards across the country have been closed to prevent
the spread of the disease among patients. In one day alone last week
more than 100 wards were forced to close and vital operations were
cancelled due to pressure on staff.

"The norovirus outbreak started even earlier in the year than usual,"
says Dr Clarence Tam, an expert in contagious gastro diseases at the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

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"We saw the first large numbers coming through in September, rather than
the usual November. It is too early to say why this outbreak is so
widespread, but there are clues from the last epidemic in 2002.

"It was discovered then that the norovirus had mutated from its usual
structure and this wiped out any previous immunity people may have built
up to the virus. It is possible this has happened again."

But it isn't just stomach bugs that will cause havoc this winter. Each
year, around 28,000 people in the UK succumb to what experts term
"excess winter deaths" caused by illnesses ranging from respiratory
infections to gastric disorders.

"Most winter epidemics are caused by viral infections, which thrive on
close contact," explains Dr John Britton, of the Royal College of
Physicians.

"We all tend to stay indoors more in winter, and that provides an ideal
environment for viruses to spread.

"In addition, our immune systems tend to be depressed in winter, which
lessens our ability to ward off infection.

According to Professor Steve Field of the Royal College of GPs, the best
defence against viral infection is to avoid crowded places, to maintain
a healthy immune system, and get plenty of rest.

The symptoms of novovirus to watch out for include sudden vomiting and
diarrhoea and sometimes fever, aches and pains.

"Stay at home, take paracetamol, and drink plenty of fluids," says
Professor Field. "Avoid contact with other people for 48 hours after
symptoms have gone."

But if you thought norovirus was bad, consider its big sister,
rotavirus. This is an extremely contagious gastric viral infection,
passed via contact with diarrhoea, or through airborne particles.

Hardier than the norovirus, it can survive on human skin for up to four
hours and in water for weeks.

The symptoms are similar to norovirus but more severe, especially in
children. Symptoms include high fever, vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
The only way to confirm rotavirus rather than norovirus is by a faecal test.

Almost every child under five will contract rotavirus at some point -
one of the major causes of winter hospital admissions for children.

Last year 1,800 infants under two were hospitalised with it. Half of
adults in contact with the infection will catch it, but only a third
will suffer symptoms as their immune systems are stronger.

A strict hygiene routine is essential to prevent the virus spreading.
Paracetamol (use infant formulations for children) can help with the
pain and fever.

Make sure you drink fluids to guard against dehydration - and patients
should be kept in isolation from others for 48 hours after symptoms have
stopped.