Over one million hit by winter vomiting in Britain

London, Dec 28 (IANS) More than a million people in Britain have contracted the norovirus or winter vomiting bug this season, official figures show.

Calculations say one million and 18,000 people have been hit with the vomiting sickness this winter, the Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

Laboratory tests by the Health Protection Agency confirmed 3,538 cases of norovirus this season.

The latest figures are 83 percent higher than the number of cases reported at this point last year when there were 1,934 cases.

As most samples sent for analysis come from care homes and hospitals, officials say a ratio of one laboratory case probably means there are a further 288 cases among people who do not seek medical treatment and are not tested.

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

Symptoms of norovirus include a sudden onset of vomiting and 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.

IANS 2012-12-28 20:06:09