UK - Norovirus cases 2012

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

Sickness bug shuts four wards at University Hospital of North Staffordshire

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

By Dave Blackhurst

FOUR wards have been closed to new patients because of a bug outbreak at Staffordshire's biggest hospital.

The restrictions mean up to 80 beds at the 1,100-bed University Hospital of North Staffordshire are out of action and unable to take emergency cases from its overstretched A&E unit.

The wards have been sealed off to new admissions to help tackle cases of the winter vomiting bug.

Hospital officials today urged visitors with the symptoms of the so-called norovirus to stay away from the hospital.

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http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Sickness-bug-shuts-wards-University-Hospital/story-17557286-detail/story.html

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Suspected ?norovirus? bug hits Penicuik school

Published on Wednesday 12 December 2012 07:00

PARENTS were told to stay away from a school?s nativity play this week after a stomach virus outbreak.

The suspected norovirus bug among pupils at Mauricewood Primary School in Penicuik prompted Midlothian Council to restrict access to the building at Greenlaw Mains.
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http://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-headlines/suspected-norovirus-bug-hits-penicuik-school-1-2685889

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

12 December 2012
Last updated at 06:56 ET

Crieff Community Hospital closes ward due to norovirus

A Perthshire hospital has closed one its wards to new admissions following an outbreak of norovirus.

Ward 2 at Crieff Community Hospital has been closed following several cases of vomiting and diarrhoea.

NHS Tayside said it believed the closure was due to an outbreak of norovirus, more commonly known as the winter vomiting bug.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-20693688

[Giuseppe]

Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

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

HPA update on seasonal norovirus activity

12 December 2012


Figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that in the two weeks ending December 2 there has been a 28 per cent reduction in the number of confirmed lab reports of norovirus.

During the week ending November 25 there were 327 confirmed cases and 236 during the week ending December 2.

The latest weekly report is published today.

The figures for the number of hospital outbreaks show that there were 45 hospital outbreaks during the last two weeks up to December 9. This is similar to the previous fortnight to December 2.

In this season to date there have been 2,630 confirmed laboratory reports of norovirus. This is 72 per cent higher than the same period in the last season when there were 1,533 cases reported. There are no indications as to why activity is higher this year.

Laboratory confirmed reports represent only a small proportion of the actual amount of norovirus activity in the community, because the vast majority of affected people do not access health care services as a result of their illness. It has been estimated that for every confirmed case there are around 288 unreported cases*.

As part of the HPA?s surveillance of norovirus data are collected from various sources including NHS Direct. Analysis of calls to NHS direct show that the proportion of calls for diarrhoea and vomiting are stable and within seasonally expected levels.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by contact with an infected person; by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects or by consuming contaminated food or water. The virus spreads rapidly in closed environments such as hospitals, schools and care homes.

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.

John Harris, an expert in norovirus at the HPA said: ?Our figures show a small drop in the number of confirmed cases over the last couple of weeks. We cannot read too much into this at present as this is typical of the norovirus season where we see a series of sharp rises and falls in activity between October and April with the bulk of cases usually occurring between January and March.

?People should be vigilant in their hygiene and we would like to remind anyone who has typical symptoms suggestive of norovirus infection to avoid visiting friends or relatives in hospital or care homes. Norovirus infection in hospitals is very disruptive as it can lead to ward closures.

?Having a norovirus infection is very unpleasant but it is short-lived and most people will fully recover in a couple of days. Make sure that you or anyone you are caring for takes plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Over-the-counter medicines can also be useful in reducing headaches and other aches and pains?.

Advice for the public when managing a bout of norovirus:

• Do not visit your GP surgery or local A&E Unit. Norovirus infection is a self-limiting illness and you will recover naturally without treatment. It is, however, important to take plenty of drinks to replace lost fluids.
• Use NHS Direct's new diarrhoea and vomiting online health and symptom checker, to get advice on how to manage your symptoms at home or help to access the most appropriate health service: https://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/CheckSymptoms/SATs/DandV5AndOver.aspx
• Wash hands thoroughly and regularly at all times, but particularly after using the toilet and before eating.
• Do not visit friends or relatives in hospitals or residential care homes as there is a real risk that you would introduce the infection putting vulnerable people at risk.

ENDS



Notes for editors:

1. *Data from The Infectious Intestinal Diseases II (IID II) report can be found here: http://www.food.gov.uk/science/research/foodborneillness/foodbornediseaseresearch/
   b14programme/b14projlist/b18021/#.ULzDFiKPWHc
2. The latest norovirus report can be found here: http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Norovirus/
3. Figures show that there were 287 laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus in the week ending November 11 (week 45) and during the ending November 18 (week 46) there were 316 cases.
4. 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
5. 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: 12 December 2012

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

North Manchester General Hospital to restrict visitors until Saturday to stop Norovirus spread

Alice McKeegan
December 27, 2012

Visiting restrictions will remain in place at North Manchester General Hospital until at least Saturday after a major outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.

The hospital temporarily closed every ward to visitors last Thursday (December 20) to try to contain the spread of the norovirus.

Bosses at Pennine Acute Trust have relaxed the restrictions but six wards remain closed to visitors and new admissions.

More...

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1596909_north-manchester-general-hospital-to-restrict-visitors-until-saturday-to-stop-norovirus-spread

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Ward 23 remains shut at Scunthorpe General Hospital

Thursday, December 27, 2012

A ward at Scunthorpe General Hospital remains closed to visitors following an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Ward 23 is currently closed in order to stop the norovirus disease spread.
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The ward has been shut since December 19.
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http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk/Ward-23-remains-shut-Scunthorpe-General-Hospital/story-17693150-detail/story.html

[Shiloh]

Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20854461

28 December 2012 Last updated at 07:26 ET
Cases of the winter vomiting bug 'top a million'

Cases of the winter vomiting bug norovirus in England and Wales have topped a million, latest figures from the Health Protection Agency suggest.

It said there were 3,538 lab-confirmed cases up to 16 December - but that for each another 288 go unreported.

The figure is 83% higher than at this stage last year - but have not increased greatly since last week...

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

Norovirus damages trust's recovery

By Ian Dipple Friday 28 December 2012 Updated: 28/12 18:32


REPEATED outbreaks of norovirus have cost the county?s hospitals over half a million pounds and threatens to derail the financial recovery plan of the Trust which runs them.

Some 200 planned operations scheduled at Worcestershire Royal, the Alexandra and Kidderminster hospitals had to be cancelled during November as bosses were forced to shut wards to control the number of patients with the highly infectious sickness and diarrhoea bug.
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Read more:

http://www.worcesterstandard.co.uk/2012/12/28/news-Norovirus-damages-trust's-recovery-59144.html

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Re: UK - Norovirus cases 2012

By Nick Owens
30 Dec 2012 13:40

On the sicklist: Hospital closed to visitors for 3rd time as norovirus strikes five wards

A hospital has been forced to ban visitors for the SECOND time in a week as health officials battle the norovirus outbreak.

... East Surrey Hospital banned visitors again this weekend as norovirus struck down patients on five wards ? after briefly reopening over Christmas.

The hospital, in Redhill, Surrey, was first forced to quarantine wards in November, then again on December 18.
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A spokesman said: ?This is a decision that is not taken lightly.? Relatives could still phone patients, he added.

Hospitals across the UK have been battling the outbreak. More than 5,000 NHS workers are reportedly calling in sick every day as cases hit a five-year high.

More...

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/on-the-sicklist-hospital-closed-to-visitors-for-3rd-1510378