UK - Norovirus cases 2013

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UK norovirus sickness cases reach over 1.1 million

LONDON | Wed Jan 2, 2013 9:08am EST
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Britain's Health Protection Agency (HPA) said cases of highly contagious norovirus have risen earlier than expected this winter - a trend that has also been seen across Europe, Japan and other parts of the world.
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HPA data released on Wednesday showed there have been 3,877 laboratory-confirmed cases of norovirus in Britain this winter, 72 percent higher than the number of cases reported at the same point last year. The reason for the rise in not known.

For every laboratory-confirmed case, scientists estimate some 288 unreported cases, as the vast majority of those affected don't go to a doctor. This means the number of people affected in the UK so far is likely to be more than 1.1 million.

"As we have seen in previous years, there has been a dip in the number of confirmed laboratory reports owing to the Christmas and New Year period," said John Harris, the HPA's norovirus expert.

But he added that the HPA expected to see a rise in the number of laboratory reports in the next few weeks.
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Full text:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/02/us-norovirus-britain-idUSBRE9010AP20130102

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Norovirus triggers shortage of O negative blood

The NHS has made an urgent appeal for O Negative blood donors after the norovirus outbreak and the festive period caused a drop in donations.
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An NBS spokesman said: "Blood stocks can often dip around holiday time as people get distracted and can't always attend their sessions.

"In addition, the recent outbreak of norovirus has led to a dramatic increase in the number of people correctly cancelling their appointments.

"Non-attendance by O Negative donors increased by 50% just before New Year."
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9778583/Norovirus-triggers-shortage-of-O-negative-blood.html

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Royal Berkshire Hospital
Visiting restrictions to combat Norovirus

Visiting restrictions are being introduced at the Royal Berkshire Hospital as part of measures to protect our patients from coming into contact with Norovirus which is now widespread in the community.

Only essential visits should be made ? we are asking people who think they need to visit a close relative to ask themselves ? is the visit essential? We need everyone to take all possible measures to help us keep the virus from being brought into the hospital and affecting more of our patients. Parents whose children are patients in the children?s wards may visit but should not bring siblings with them.

Nationally over one million people are now reported to be suffering from the virus and although we now have a very small number of wards affected, we have decided to introduce these restrictions to try as far as possible to prevent any further cases of the virus being brought into the hospital. We realise the restrictions will be inconvenient but hope that the public will realise the importance of taking every possible reasonable step to protect our patients.

Further information on winter vomiting bug

http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/winter_vomiting_bug.aspx

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

4 January 2013 Last updated at 09:02 ET

One in five' struck by norovirus in Scotland, say experts

One in five people in Scotland may have been hit by norovirus in the past year, according to new figures.

The high number of cases has led to hospitals across the country having to close wards to new admissions.

A total of 2,824 cases of norovirus - also known as the winter vomiting bug - were confirmed by laboratories in Scotland in the past 12 months.
For each confirmed case, scientists believe hundreds more people could have been affected.

Over the past five years estimated cases have risen by an average of about 25%.

Fourteen hospitals across the country have been affected by norovirus in the past week alone, with 18 wards being closed to new admissions.
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More...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20903489

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

6 January 2013 Last updated at 11:37 ET

Norovirus hits Birmingham Heartlands Hospital visiting
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A spokesman for Heartlands Hospital said five areas were also closed to new admissions to protect patients.

Dr Aresh Anwa said: "Heartlands is closing all wards to visitors except for the intensive care ward as a precautionary measure."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-20926869

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Patients waiting for 12 hours in Scotland?s A&E crisis

By EDDIE BARNES
Published on Saturday 5 January 2013 22:44

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HOSPITALS are suffering a major winter crisis with patients having to spend up to 12 hours on trolleys before being properly treated, senior doctors have warned.

Consultants have told Scotland on Sunday that accident and emergency units are facing ?exceptional pressure? and are failing to meet government targets on ensuring that every patient is either admitted or discharged within a maximum of four hours after arrival.

Medics say they having to deal with a larger number of unwell elderly people than in previous years, with further pressure on bedspace coming from a nationwide outbreak of norovirus that has closed 18 wards in 14 hospitals over the last week.

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http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/patients-waiting-for-12-hours-in-scotland-s-a-e-crisis-1-2721027

[Tonka]

Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9785048/Patients-treated-in-ambulances-as-cases-of-norovirus-surge-to-record-levels.html

Patients treated in ambulances as cases of Norovirus surge to record levels

More than 100 patients had to be treated in ambulances as hospital staff struggled to cope with record numbers of norovirus cases....more from the source.

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Isle of Man

Norovirus warning on return to school

By Jackie Turley
Published on Monday 7 January 2013 06:55

THE island?s director of public health has raised his concern that cases of the sickness bug norovirus could increase as schools re-open for the start of term today (Monday).

Dr Parameswaran Kishore is urging parents to take precautions to ensure that the spread is reduced.
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Dr Kishore said in the UK reported cases of norovirus increased by 72 per cent from 2011 to 2012. And he said it was estimated that for every confirmed case, there were 288 unrecorded ones.

He said that while norovirus figures were unreliable in the island as most people did not seek medical attention, it was clear there had been ?a lot more? cases last year than in previous years.

Dr Kishore said the rise was due to the ?virulence? of the stomach bug, saying: ?It?s very easily transmitted.?

Full text:

http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/norovirus-warning-on-return-to-school-1-5284573

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Norovirus vomiting bug struck 150,000 over festive period

Up to 1.19 million people may have contracted norovirus so far this season as bug sweeps country, says health agency

Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 8 January 2013 08.47 EST

More than 150,000 people were struck down with the winter vomiting bug during the festive period, the latest figures suggest.

During the last two weeks of 2012, the Health Protection Agency confirmed 529 cases of norovirus. But for every reported case, an estimated 288 are not flagged up.

The HPA said there had been 4,140 laboratory-confirmed cases of norovirus, meaning up to 1.19 million people could have contracted the illness this season, a 63% rise on the previous season.

The bug has swept the country and has led to the closure of dozens of hospital wards. During the past two weeks, 33 hospital outbreaks have been reported.

More...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/08/norovirus-vomiting-bug-festive-period

[Giuseppe]

Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

[Source: United Kingdom, Health Protection Agency, full page: (LINK). Edited.]

HPA update on seasonal norovirus activity: 8 January 2013

8 January 2013



Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show there have been 4,140 laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus this season (from week 27 to week 52 2012). The latest figures are 63 per cent higher than the number of cases reported at this point last year, when there were 2,535 cases.

The downward trend in the number of confirmed cases has continued in line with the previous report although this is to be expected following the Christmas and New Year period. We will expect to see the number of cases increase again over the following few weeks.

During the two weeks up to 6 January there were 33 hospital outbreaks reported, compared to 30 in the previous fortnight, bringing the total of outbreaks for the season to 673.

Cases of norovirus have risen earlier than expected this winter season and this is a trend that has been seen across Europe and other parts of the world. It has not yet been determined why this has been the case and activity varies significantly from year to year.

John Harris, an expert in norovirus from the HPA said: ?Our latest figures covering the New Year period show a further decline in the number of cases and this is what we would expect to see. We can never predict how busy a season will be or what will happen in the weeks ahead although, as with other norovirus seasons we will expect to see an increase in the number of laboratory reports in the next few weeks until the end of March when activity begins to fall away.

?If you think you may have the illness then it is important to stay away from hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes to avoid spreading it to people who may have underlying health conditions and already be vulnerable. Maintaining good hand hygiene is also important to help prevent it spreading.?

Norovirus can be transmitted by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, by contact with an infected person, or by the consumption of contaminated food or water. Symptoms of norovirus include a sudden onset of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Some people may have a temperature, headache and stomach cramps. The illness usually resolves in one or two days and there are no long-term effects.

Ends



Notes to editors

1. Indications from Europe and Japan are that norovirus activity also started to increase early. In Australia the norovirus season also peaks during the winter but this season it has gone on longer than usual and they are seeing cases into their summer. The HPA is following up with colleagues internationally.
2. The number of laboratory confirmed cases represents just a fraction of the actual amount of norovirus activity as it is estimated that for each confirmed case, there are a further 288 unreported cases, as the vast majority of those affected do not seek healthcare services in response to their illness. Data from The Infectious Intestinal Diseases II (IID II) report can be found at the Food Standards Agency website [external link].
3. The latest norovirus report can be found at the HPA Norovirus page.
4. Guidelines for the management of norovirus in acute and community health and social care settings can be found from the Guidelines for the management of norovirus outbreaks in acute and community health and social care settings (PDF, 2.6 MB) document.
5. The Health Protection Agency is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards. In April 2013, subject to the usual approvals procedures for establishing new bodies, the Health Protection Agency will become part of a new organisation called Public Health England, an executive agency of the Department of Health. To find out more, visit our website: http://www.hpa.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @HPAuk or ?Like? us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthProtectionAgency [external link].
6. For more information please contact the national HPA press office at Colindale on 0208 327 7901 or email colindale-pressoffice@hpa.org.uk. Out of hours the duty press officer can be contacted on 0208 200 4400.

Last reviewed: 8 January 2013

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Norovirus: new strain may be behind 63% increase in cases

Experts say a new dominant strain ? Sydney 2012 ? is behind most of the estimated 1.19m cases in cases

Denis Campbell, health correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 9 January 2013 05.55 EST
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The new strain of norovirus, called Sydney 2012, was first detected in the UK in October but has now become the dominant strain, the Health Protection Agency said on Tuesday.

HPA genetic testing of patients in England and Wales affected by norovirus last October, when it began circulating again, identified Sydney 2012 as one of a number of strains that were affecting a growing number of patients, which also included another strain called New Orleans 2009.

At the time none of what the HPA called a "cocktail of different strains" was dominant, the HPA said.

But the latest testing of the most recent outbreaks, completed this week, showed that Sydney 2012 had overtaken all others to become the dominant strain.
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Full text:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jan/09/norovirus-vomiting-bug-rise

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Friday 11 January 2013</TIME>

Norovirus outbreak leads to cancelled operations

FORTY patients had their operations cancelled after "exceptional demand" for beds because of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.
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NHS Tayside was slammed by patients' groups over the move, which resulted in 20 people a day being turned away from Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The board said it had been left in a very challenging situation because of a significant increase in patients with viral conditions including norovirus.
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They said beds were in short supply because bugs had left many acutely ill. Ninewells has had up to 90 people admitted every day with viruses in recent days.

More...

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/health/norovirus-outbreak-leads-to-cancelled-operations.19879105

[Shiloh]

Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Source: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/he...ations-1528857



By Chris Clements
Scottish hospitals forced to cancel operations as winter flu outbreak continues to spread
11 Jan 2013 00:01

SIXTEEN hospitals have been forced to close wards in a bid to combat the spread of the norovirus bug.

HOSPITALS have axed operations and closed wards due to the winter flu outbreak ? leaving employers struggling as thousands of workers call in sick.

Staff in hospitals are facing a four-fold increase in patients with seasonal flu and the vomiting bug compared with this time last year, health Secretary Alex Neil said yesterday.

Meanwhile, 16 hospitals have had to close wards to combat the spread of the norovirus bug, putting more pressure on wards which are still open.

Forty patients at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee have now had their operations cancelled after ?exceptional demand? for beds due to winter viruses.

NHS Tayside said they had been left in a ?very challenging situation? with up to 90 people admitted to the hospital every day with viruses including norovirus and flu...

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

Norovirus shuts eight wards at Warwick Hospital to visitors

EIGHT wards at Warwick Hospital are now shut to visitors after the latest outbreak of norovirus.

The vomiting bug fully closed Victoria, Charlecote, Malins, Castle, Nicholas, Guy, Mary and Squire Ward to visitors at 1pm today (Monday).

Exceptions may be made on compassionate grounds where the patient is seriously ill.
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By Matt Wilson
1 hour ago

http://www.stratford-herald.com/local-news/6302-norovirus-shuts-eight-wards-at-warwick-hospital-to-visitors.html

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2013

ByJohn Ferguson
14 Jan 2013 00:01

NHS in crisis as hundreds of hospital staff fall ill with winter flu and norovirus after treating infected patients
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HOSPITALS are struggling to cope with flu and norovirus outbreaks because so many staff are floored by the bugs.
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A staggering 7000 people had to spend more than four hours before being attended to between December 23 and January 6, while 291 waited more than 12 hours.

And one of the biggest problems facing hospitals is that hundreds of nurses and doctors are falling ill after treating infected patients.

Royal College of Nursing Scotland director Theresa Fyffe said: ?What?s important is that health boards monitor local situations and ensure there are enough staff with the right skills to give patients high quality care in a safe environment.

More...

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/hospital-struggle-to-cope-with-winter-flu-1533110