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New strain of Norovirus

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The so-called Sydney 2012 strain has become the most common form of norovirus in circulation, scientists at the Health Protection Agency said.

The virus, named after the place it first emerged, caused a similar early start to the norovirus season in Australia as has happened here.

So far over 1.1m people have contracted nororvirus this winter in England as cases approached double the normal rate.

The disease eased slightly over Christmas and New Year but this is likely to be due to less testing being carried out over the holiday period and could rise again.

Norovirus strains do change slightly and several strains were in circulation at the beginning of the UK season but Sydney 2012 has now become dominant.

It does not cause more severe illness and there remains no effective treatment, only fluids and rest until it clears on its own, usually after 48 hours.

The new strain was documented in a research paper published in the journal Eurosurveillance.

Norovirus

Norovirus

The authors, from a number of different countries, said the strain was linked to higher cases globally and healthcare systems should prepare for a ‘severe norovirus season’.

They said the data from England and Wales suggested there were more norovirus cases than normal and the higher rates were not simply due to the disease striking earlier.


Dr David Brown, Director of Virology Reference Department at the HPA said, “It is always difficult to predict the norovirus season and this year is no different.

“Noroviruses mutate rapidly and new strains are constantly emerging. At the start of the season it is normal for outbreaks to be caused by a range of different strains. However as the season progresses particular strains are more successful and become dominant.

“The emergence of a new strain does not mean that it causes more serious illness and managing outbreaks and those will the illness remains the same.

“There is no specific treatment for norovirus infection other than to let the illness take its course, with symptoms usually lasting around two days. Keeping hydrated is very important and you can take over-the-counter medicines to relieve headaches and aches and pains.”

Norovirus outbreak in UK hospitals

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Wards have been forced to close and visiting hours restricted in 35 hospitals in an effort to contain the dangerous winter vomiting bug which is sweeping Britain.

Cases of norovirus, which causes violent vomiting and diarrhoea, are on the rise and have been reported at 35 hospitals in the past fortnight. Half of the cases have so far been confirmed by laboratory tests and 27 wards have been closed as a result.

With further cold weather ahead, experts warn the illness could continue to spread.

It is estimated that up to a million people each year are affected by the virus which can spread rapidly, particularly in crowded environments such as hospitals, residential care homes and schools. Occasionally it can be fatal, especially if contracted by those who are already unwell.

Hospitals in London, Warwick, Redditch, Doncaster, Winchester, Bedford, Burton, Southampton, Chester, Somerset and Newport in Wales have been forced to close wards.

On the Isle of Wight, patients with symptoms of the bug have been warned to stay away from hospital, and are instead being treated in their homes.

Norovirus

Norovirus

Carol Alstrom, the chief nurse at St Mary’s Hospital on the island, said: ‘It is vitally important for people to keep away from hospital and nursing or residential care homes if they have been unwell with vomiting and or diarrhoea recently.’

Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, said that despite advances in medicine, treatments for norovirus have not improved in the past century.

‘We have to fall back on traditional barrier nursing – isolation of patients and treating their symptoms, all things we could have done 100 years ago,’ he said.

‘For most people, norovirus is mild. But for the very elderly and the elderly with other health problems, it is the last straw for some of them.’


He added that most people do not bother their GP about the condition and so official figures are notoriously low. But for every one case in official statistics, it is likely there are many more.

Norovirus, which is most prevalent in winter, is highly contagious and can live on tiles, curtains and carpets for weeks. There are also fears that a new strain is on the march. As well as vomiting and diarrhoea, other symptoms include a raised temperature, headaches, stomach cramps and aching limbs.

A Health Protection Agency spokesman said: ‘Anyone who thinks they may have norovirus should not go to their doctor’s surgery or A&E as this could spread the illness to vulnerable people and healthcare workers.

‘People who are unwell should ensure they take plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids.’

The HPA also advises people to wash hands thoroughly and regularly at all times, but particularly after using the toilet and before eating. Those who are ill should not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes.