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Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/he...rus-cases.html
NHS faces spate of vomiting bug norovirus cases
The NHS is battling a fresh wave of norovirus, the vomiting bug, which has claimed up to 500,000 victims this winter.
By Murray Wardrop and Ben Leach
Published: 7:30AM GMT 18 Jan 2010
More than 140 hospital wards were forced to close over the weekend in an effort to contain the bug, which causes violent stomach upsets, reports suggest.
NHS trusts have also had to cancel operations and ban visitors to prevent the spread of the virus.
It comes as the NHS struggles to treat a backlog of patients after the big freeze caused thousands of operations to be cancelled and saw a sharp increase in people being admitted to hospital.
Experts believe cases of norovirus could rise further in the coming weeks.
Dr Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, told the Daily Mail: ?It seems incredibly serious. We know it peaks twice a year and it looks like we are in the middle of a second serious peak in a few months that could be affecting up to half a million people.
?We can only estimate the figures because most cases go unreported.?
Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, added: ?It does seem a very bad year.
?For most people it's a short illness that lasts for two to four days.
?Although it's very unpleasant, the vast majority will get better without any treatment. The worry is for the elderly and those with pre-existing health problems.?
November saw a significant surge in norovirus cases but there now appears to be a second, more severe phase.
In January 2009 there were 46 ward closures in England caused by norovirus. Over the weekend their were 141 wards closed, which is more than during the whole of last month.
The outbreaks force hospitals to delay operations such as hip and knee surgery.
They also lead to staff shortages as NHS workers catch the bug.
London has seen record levels of the disease, with 58 confirmed outbreaks this month against 35 in the same period last year.
King's College Hospital had four adult wards and one paediatric ward closed over the weekend.
Spokesman Mark Graver said: ?We are doing everything we can, but it's very difficult to contain because its highly infectious. As soon as someone vomits the spores go everywhere and they live for months.
?We don't reopen a ward until it has been given a deep clean and until the very last person has been given the all-clear from the bug for 72 hours.?
There were also closures at NHS trusts in Essex and Norfolk.
The Department of Health said the NHS was ?working extremely hard to minimise the impact on patients? from the recent severe weather.
A spokesman said: ?The NHS deals effectively with norovirus outbreaks all year round and this year is no different."
It said trusts were taking measures such as closing wards to new admissions and implementing strict hygiene controls.
NHS faces spate of vomiting bug norovirus cases
The NHS is battling a fresh wave of norovirus, the vomiting bug, which has claimed up to 500,000 victims this winter.
By Murray Wardrop and Ben Leach
Published: 7:30AM GMT 18 Jan 2010
More than 140 hospital wards were forced to close over the weekend in an effort to contain the bug, which causes violent stomach upsets, reports suggest.
NHS trusts have also had to cancel operations and ban visitors to prevent the spread of the virus.
It comes as the NHS struggles to treat a backlog of patients after the big freeze caused thousands of operations to be cancelled and saw a sharp increase in people being admitted to hospital.
Experts believe cases of norovirus could rise further in the coming weeks.
Dr Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, told the Daily Mail: ?It seems incredibly serious. We know it peaks twice a year and it looks like we are in the middle of a second serious peak in a few months that could be affecting up to half a million people.
?We can only estimate the figures because most cases go unreported.?
Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, added: ?It does seem a very bad year.
?For most people it's a short illness that lasts for two to four days.
?Although it's very unpleasant, the vast majority will get better without any treatment. The worry is for the elderly and those with pre-existing health problems.?
November saw a significant surge in norovirus cases but there now appears to be a second, more severe phase.
In January 2009 there were 46 ward closures in England caused by norovirus. Over the weekend their were 141 wards closed, which is more than during the whole of last month.
The outbreaks force hospitals to delay operations such as hip and knee surgery.
They also lead to staff shortages as NHS workers catch the bug.
London has seen record levels of the disease, with 58 confirmed outbreaks this month against 35 in the same period last year.
King's College Hospital had four adult wards and one paediatric ward closed over the weekend.
Spokesman Mark Graver said: ?We are doing everything we can, but it's very difficult to contain because its highly infectious. As soon as someone vomits the spores go everywhere and they live for months.
?We don't reopen a ward until it has been given a deep clean and until the very last person has been given the all-clear from the bug for 72 hours.?
There were also closures at NHS trusts in Essex and Norfolk.
The Department of Health said the NHS was ?working extremely hard to minimise the impact on patients? from the recent severe weather.
A spokesman said: ?The NHS deals effectively with norovirus outbreaks all year round and this year is no different."
It said trusts were taking measures such as closing wards to new admissions and implementing strict hygiene controls.
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