Norovirus

Dubbed one of the coldest Marches in Britain, the cold weather has caused a return of the norovirus in Britain, as recent figures indicate the 1.89 million people have already caught the virus. The virus which appeared earlier this winter was thought to be lessening its grip, however latest figures indicate that the number of infections are beginning to rise again. Experts have said that the recent travel over Easter, which has seen millions of people travelling home, has caused the virus to travel to different parts of the country.

Norovirus, which is often called the winter vomiting bug in the UK, is the most common stomach bug in the world. Noroviruses are a genetically diverse genus of single stranded RNA, which can be transmitted through contact, contamination of surfaces or through the ait. They are typically the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in humans, affecting all ages. The virus, which is contagious, causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, with symptoms showing up 12-48 hours after the infection, however the infection only lasts a few days as the body is able to fight off the infection.