Miscellaneous

People struck down by a stomach bug sweeping Nottinghamshire have been urged not to go back to work.

Dr Trevor Mills, a GP from Old Basford, believes up to 200,000 people a week are being affected with the East Midlands particularly hit.

The norovirus causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

Dr Mill says workers need to remain at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have gone and stay away from surgeries and hospitals.

The Health Protection Agency confirmed the number of cases this year is the highest since 2002.

Norovirus - also known as winter vomiting disease - is the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis in the UK.

Illness can occur at any age because immunity to it is not long-lasting.

It is not normally dangerous but the very young and very old are most at risk of complications from dehydration.

The bug can be spread by contact with an infected person, through contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.

Outbreaks are common in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships.

'Stay home'

Professor Steve Field, chair of the Royal College of GPs said its surveillance unit in Birmingham had confirmed the number of cases was the highest in five years.

He said the number of new cases each week may even top 200,000 across the UK.

"Surgeries and hospitals have been swamped with people wanting advice."

He advised those affected to stay at home, drink lots of fluids and take paracetamol.

"Wash your hands regularly so you don't infect anyone else and stay at home two days after the symptoms have gone."

In December, the Health Protection Agency warned the norovirus season had started particularly early.

They estimate that in epidemic seasons, noroviruses may cost the NHS in excess of £100m per year.

In 2007, the number of cases reported to the HPA in England and Wales from early September to early December were double those seen in 2006 - 1,325 compared with 685.

The actual number of cases is much higher as most are not reported - perhaps as much as 1,500-fold.

NHS Direct said calls about vomiting and abdominal pain had been the number two reason for people calling over the Christmas period - in keeping with reports of increased rates of norovirus.

A total of 1,122,874 people contacted the NHS helpline over the 11-day Christmas and New Year period - a 61% increase on last year.