Norovirus: How to prevent catching the virus
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Norovirus is a virus that normally sees a surge during the winter. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this has not happened for two years. As a result, the bodies of Britons are not defended as well against the virus as they otherwise would be in a normal year. Often norovirus outbreaks affect care homes and schools the most, with inhabitants of both spreading the virus to their families, once within the home it can spread into the wider community.
Experts in the field have warned families to act fast if they notice any symptoms of norovirus.
Symptoms of the bug include:
• Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• High temperature
• Headache
• Aching arms and legs.
The NHS says these will “start suddenly within one to two days of being infected”.
The UK Health Security Agency has encouraged people to wash their hands regularly as hand sanitiser does not kill the virus.
Surveillance Lead of the Gastrointestinal Infections and Food Safety department at the UK Health Security Agency, Lesley Larkin, has said: “Handwashing is key to help stop the spread of this bug, but unlike COVID-19 alcohol hand sanitisers do not kill off norovirus, so soap and warm water is best.”
Furthermore, Larkin encouraged Britons with the condition to stay at home and avoid going to work if they were experiencing symptoms and to avoid sending their children to nursery or school until at least 48 hours after the symptoms had stopped.
The NHS advises on home treatment for norovirus: “The most important thing is to rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.”
Meanwhile, coronavirus has returned its prominent position in the nations’ consciousness as the last restrictions were lifted on April 1st.
This included the lifting of the legal requirement to self-isolate if positive with COVID-19 and the end of free testing.
If a person tests positive they are advised to stay at home for the first five days when they are most infectious.
Furthermore, if a young person has a cough or a cold, they are also being told to stay at home to avoid passing what could be Covid to others.
This decision comes amidst a record wave of Covid infections.
Nearly 4.9 million people in the UK had coronavirus according to recently released data.
In comparison, this is a similar number of people who have diabetes in the UK.
Meanwhile, a new study published in The Lancet has found the risk of someone developing diabetes rises after they’ve had COVID-19.
Results showed a patient’s risk of the condition rose by around 40 percent.
Dr Ziyad Al-Aly, Chief Researcher on the study, said: “When this whole pandemic recedes, we’re going to be left with the legacy of this pandemic – a legacy of chronic disease for which health-care systems are unprepared.”
Other studies, also led by Dr Aly, have found the risk of a person developing heart failure and a heart attack rises by over 50 percent after a case of mild COVID-19.
For more information on diabetes and norovirus contact the NHS or consult with your GP.
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