What is norovirus and how long does sickness bug last?

ALSO known as the winter vomiting bug, norovirus is easily transmissible and very unpleasant for those unlucky enough to catch it.
The highly infectious illness can come on surprisingly quickly and cause bouts of vomiting and diarrhoea.
Though most people will weather through the uncomfortable symptoms in a couple of days, health chiefs have recently warned of a 20 per cent jump in hospital admissions for norovirus.
The number of people in English hospitals with symptoms of the winter vomiting bug jumped to 452 from 344 in a fortnight and are nearly a third higher than January 2023, according to NHS data.
Experts have found that the vomiting bug can be passed around in a variety of ways, including through your favourite food.
But what are the symptoms of norovirus and how long does it last? Here’s what you need to know about the unpleasant virus…
What is norovirus?
Norovirus is one of the most common stomach bugs in the UK and is also referred to as “the winter vomiting bug”, although it can affect people all year round.
It is very unpleasant but it usually clears itself up in a few days.
It commonly spreads through food or water that is contaminated during preparation or through contaminated surfaces and through close contact with a person who is infected.
Norovirus infection occurs most frequently in closed and crowded environments. Examples include hospitals, nursing homes, child care centres, schools and cruise ships.
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
According to the NHS website, you are likely to have caught norovirus if you experience a sudden sick feeling, projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea.
The main symptoms are:
Feeling sick (nausea)
Diarrhoea
Being sick (vomiting)
A high temperature
A headache
Aching arms and legs
Read more: www.thesun.co.uk/health/21076...
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[@msdragonfire8319]

Our house has been stricken with it an my son ended up in hospital.