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UK hit by flu B and norovirus

Date published: 08/02/2006

High levels of influenza B and norovirus has led to the Health Protection Agency (HPA) to issue a warning to people on how to best control the spread of the disease. Influenza B is circulating in a number of UK regions with the west midlands being particularly hit, while norovirus, commonly known as winter vomiting disease, is thought to be affecting around one million people with children highly affected.

Professor Peter Borriello, director of the HPA's centre for infections said: "We are aware of reports of outbreaks of both flu B and norovirus that are causing illness in schools in various parts of the country. "What we are seeing is a combination of the normal norovirus activity that is seen in winter and a peak in activity of flu B that is seen every few years. It is also not unusual to see these outbreaks occurring in schools, as children generally have had less time to develop immunity to the infections.

"Although our Health Protection Units are working with affected schools where necessary we are not advising that schools close. Illness from both norovirus and flu B usually only lasts for a few days." Influenza B can lead to high temperature, fever, headache, sore throats, aches and pains, and sometimes vomiting or a feeling of nausea.

Parents are advised to keep their children at home to avoid infecting others. Those infected should keep warm, rest and drink plenty of fluids and paracetamol can also be used to relieve pain. Norovirus leads to sickness and also diarrhoea and is the most common cause of gastroenteritis. Symptoms usually last from 12 to 60 hours and will start with the sudden onset of nausea followed by projectile vomiting and diarrhoea.

The HPA said: "Good hygiene is important to prevent others from becoming infected and this includes thorough hand-washing, especially after using the toilet, and any contaminated surface should be thoroughly disinfected after an episode of illness."

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