How to avoid spreading vomiting bug
West Midlands Ambulance Service is issuing the warning after the Health Protection Agency reported that current outbreaks of norovirus are significantly worse than last year.
The viruses are one of the common causes of gastroenteritis and are easily transmitted from one person to another through contact with an infected person, by consuming contaminated food or water or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
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Hide AdThe most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Sandy Brown, director of nursing at West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “Given the difficulties that the condition presents, it is absolutely vital that the public assist us and the rest of the health service by not contributing to the spread the virus.
“It is important that if you are suffering from norovirus that you 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.”
Those affected should not visit their GP surgery or hospital accident and emergency department unless absolutely necessary.
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Hide AdMs Brown added: “It would be really unfortunate if you ended up spreading the virus and your friends and loved ones had a less than happy Christmas.
“As a service, we are seeing an increasing number of people calling us whose already serious condition is being compounded by contracting norovirus.
“We have also seen a rise in the number of 999 calls for people who turn out to only have norovirus. For the vast majority of people, there is nothing that we can do to assist them.”
She said that paramedics can provide advice on managing the condition over the phone, adding: “The symptoms last for 12 to 60 hours and most people make a full recovery within one to two days. There is no specific treatment for norovirus apart from letting the illness run its course.”
Anyone suffering from the illness should drink plenty of fluids and maintain good hand-hygiene, particularly when handling food and after using the toilet.