The UK Health Security Agency has issued a warning about a potential “second wave” of norovirus due to an increase in cases caused by a different strain.
Most infections this season had been linked to the recently emerged GII.17 genotype. But latest data shows cases of another genotype, GII.4, are now increasing, representing 29% of infections now compared to just 10% three months ago.
The rise of the second strain means people who have already had norovirus this season could be at risk of catching it again.
It comes as health chiefs warned that hospitals across England remain “close to capacity” despite a slight fall in cases of the winter vomiting bug.
Some 1,134 patients were being treated on wards for norovirus last week, down slightly from a record high of 1,160 the previous week. However, the latest figure was still 150% higher than cases at the same point last year.
And the UKHSA said its data suggested cases were still rising in the two weeks to February 16, with laboratory reports at the highest levels since the agency began reporting this data in 2014.
Visits to the NHS webpage on norovirus were also up by 40% in the last week. England’s top doctor Professor Sir Stephen Powis warned strain on the health system remained intense.
He said: “While it is good news norovirus cases dropped, they remain extremely close to the all-time high reported last week so we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing.
“Hospitals remain close to capacity in part because of seasonal illnesses, and it is vital that people do everything they can to reduce the spread of what can be a deeply unpleasant illness.”
The UKHSA said cases usually start to decline around this time of year as the weather warms, but it it too soon to conclude whether norovirus has peaked this season.
Sir Stephen, the NHS’s national medical director, urged anyone with symptoms of norovirus to help stop the spread by washing hands frequently and avoiding mixing with others until two days after symptoms stop.
He added: “While pressures on hospitals remains incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.”
Meanwhile, the number of flu cases in hospitals continued to fall with an average 1,656 patients in beds with flu last week, including 80 in intensive care, down 5.7% from 1,755 the week before. The number of patients with Covid rose slightly — up 4% to 1,027 from 984.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the health service was “still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service”.
“We have taken important steps to reduce winter pressures this year, including getting doctors back on the frontline, rather than the picket line, and introducing the country’s first RSV vaccination scheme.
“Through the government’s Plan for Change, we will deliver the investment and reform required to turn our health service around, so it will be there for all of us when we need it, once again.”
Amy Douglas, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Norovirus cases are still exceptionally high and we are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as hospitals and care homes.
“Symptoms of norovirus can be more severe in older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised.
"If you have diarrhoea and vomiting please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don’t prepare food for others as you can still pass on the virus.
“Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop the infection from spreading.”
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