‘Stay home’ plea to virus victims

OLDHAMERS affected by the winter vomiting bug are being urged stay away from hospitals and GPs in a bid to protect others.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) North-West has asked people affected by the highly infectious illness not to visit local surgeries or accident and emergency departments.
The norovirus can spread rapidly in places such as schools, workplaces, hospitals, residential care homes and cruise ships.

It is the most common cause of gastro-intestinal illness in the UK with between 600,000 and one million people affected every year.

Dr Vinay Bothra, a consultant with the HPA’s Greater Manchester Health Protection Unit, said: “As the name suggests, we tend to see more of this illness during winter.

“However, we know that community outbreaks can occur at any time and we want people to have the information they need to protect themselves and others from this infection before they are faced with it.”

Symptoms include vomiting, fever and sometimes diarrhoea, and the infection spreads easily among people who live or work in close proximity.

Although unpleasant, norovirus illness is short-lived and the majority of people, even the frail elderly, usually recover within two to three days.

Dr Bothra said: “Our advice is that people with winter vomiting should not visit their GP surgery or hospital accident unit.

“They should rest at home, drink plenty of fluids, ensure that their personal hygiene is good, particularly hand-washing, and avoid contact with others where possible.

“If symptoms persist, patients should phone their family doctor or NHS Direct, the 24-hour health advice service, on 0845-4647.”


Vomiting bug advice

The Agency’s advice for containing and preventing the spread of norovirus infection is:

::Wash hands thoroughly and regularly at all times, but particularly after toilet visits and before eating.

::Do not handle or prepare food for other people until you have been symptom-free for a minimum of 48 hours.

::Stay away from work or school until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours.

::Do not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes as there is a real risk that you would introduce the infection to the establishment.

::Norovirus infection is a self-limiting illness and you will recover naturally without treatment. However, drink plenty to replace lost fluids.