Hygiene key to beating winter virus

IT is the time of year when winter vomiting virus may strike, and health protection bosses have issued advice on how people can ward off the illness.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) predicts it will not be long before the norovirus infection, with its symptoms of diarrhoea, projectile vomiting and fever, is back in the news.

It spreads quickly and affects up to a million people each year.

Anyone infected should stay away from work or school until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

Ruth Philp, nurse consultant with the HPA’s Greater Manchester health protection unit, said: “Norovirus illness is unpleasant, but it is short-lived and people usually recover in anything from 12 to 60 hours without treatment, other than rest and the replacement of fluids.

“It is, however, a highly contagious infection that can spread rapidly.”

Ms Philp said victims should ensure their personal hygiene is good, particularly hand-washing, and avoid contact with others, including preparing food for them.

But, she warned that older people and the very young can sometimes get a more severe infection or become dehydrated, in which case they or their carers should telephone their GP or NHS Direct, on 0845-4657 for advice.

Prof Mike Catchpole, director of the HPA’s centre for infections, said one of the most important ways of controlling the spread of infection is hand washing, which should always be done after using the toilet, before eating or handling food, and after handling animals.