Winter Sickness Strikes Over 1.1 Million Britons

BBC reported that more than 1.1 million Britons have been affected by the norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug.

The Health Protection Agency said there were 3,877 lab-confirmed cases till Dec 30, 2012, but for each confirmed case there are 288 more infections which go unreported.

Norovirus outbreak results in hospital visit restrictions
An out break of viral infections in a hospital has resulted in complete closure of few of its wards

The figure was 72 percent higher than at the same point last year.

Norovirus is the most common cause of stomach illness in the country, usually affecting between 600,000 and a million people each year.

Around 12 to 48 hours after becoming infected, the virus causes sudden onset of nausea followed by vomiting and diarrhoea. The virus lives in the gut and is spread by poor hygiene.

Four People Die in Japan Following a Suspected Norovirus Outbreak
Four people have lost their lives and nearly 100 others infected by a suspected norovirus outbreak at a hospital in Yokohama, Japan.

Norovirus can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, by contact with an infected person, or by the consumption of contaminated food or water.

Source-IANS

Serious Illness from Norovirus may Affect NBA Players as Well
The first known report of a norovirus outbreak in a professional sports association is described in a new study that details a 2010 outbreak involving several NBA teams.

Norovirus-Type Symptoms Forces Closure of Over 1,500 Hospital Beds
New figures show that the average number of closed beds per day due to norovirus-type symptoms have more than doubled in space of a week.