'Stay home for five days' alert as variant drives virus cases soaring

People have been urged to isolate at home for five days if they contract a contagious illness as a new variant is sweeping across the country - driving cases up 16% in two weeks. Rates of the winter vomiting bug norovirus have surged and the UK Health Security Agency says a Japanese variant known as Kawasaki is responsible for 70% of cases.

The latest figures from the UKHSA show 447 lab-confirmed cases in the last two weeks of October, a 16% increase on the two weeks before. The number of people in hospital with norovirus is 26% above the five-year average.

The numbers only cover lab-confirmed cases, meaning many more people may be suffering from the virus but have not been tested. When people go to hospital with norovirus they are placed in isolated rooms to stop the virus from spreading.

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The UKHSA has put the surge down to the cold and the variant GII.17 - known as Kawasaki after the city where it was first detected.

A UKHSA spokesman said: "The increase of the variant has been observed in other countries and is being closely monitored." The virus, which causes sickness and diarrhoea as well as chills, muscle aches and , can be passed from person to person, picked up on surfaces or spread via food.

It usually lasts up to three days and people have been told to stay home for two days after they recover to stop the spread - a total of five days.

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Gauri Godbole, deputy director of gastrointestinal infections at the UKHSA, said: 'If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, do not return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don't prepare food for others in that time either. If you are unwell, avoid visiting people in and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings."

People who fall ill with norovirus are advised to rest, get plenty of fluids and take paracetamol.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It’s sometimes referred to as the "stomach flu," although it’s not related to the influenza virus. Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness and outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness worldwide, especially in places like hospitals, cruise ships, schools, and nursing homes, where people are in close quarters.

Symptoms of Norovirus

Symptoms usually appear 12–48 hours after exposure and can last 1–3 days. They include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Low-grade fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches can also occur in some cases.

How Norovirus Spreads

The virus spreads very easily, often through:

• Contaminated food or water
• Contact with infected surfaces
• Direct contact with an infected person

Norovirus can survive on surfaces for extended periods and withstand common disinfectants, making it difficult to control in outbreak settings.

Treatment and Prevention

There’s no specific treatment for norovirus; symptoms usually resolve on their own. Staying hydrated is essential, as dehydration can be a risk, especially for young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Preventative measures include:

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water (especially after using the restroom and before eating).
• Disinfecting surfaces with bleach-based cleaners.
• Isolating infected individuals if possible to avoid spreading the virus.

While the illness is unpleasant, it usually isn’t severe, but it can be more dangerous for vulnerable populations.