Cases of norovirus across the country are “the highest we have seen at this time of year in over a decade”, a doctor at the UK Health Security Agency has warned.
Levels of the highly infectious stomach bug have been surging in recent weeks, with hundreds of hospital beds filled by people with symptoms, figures show.
Norovirus cases are more than double the five-season average before the coronavirus pandemic, the UKHSA said.
Reporting has increased across all age groups, most notably in those aged 65 and over.
While most of the outbreaks caused by norovirus continue to be reported in care homes, cases in hospitals are also increasing but remain below the five-season average.
Outbreaks reported in care home settings increased from 47 in the week starting on February 6 to 54 in the week beginning February 13, representing the highest number reported in a week so far this season.
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Dr Lesley Larkin, surveillance lead of gastrointestinal infections and food safety at UKHSA, said the increase represents “the highest [levels] we have seen at this time of year” in more than 10 years.
The National Health Service says symptoms of norovirus — also known as the “winter vomiting bug” — include diarrhoea and feeling or being sick.
Those infected may also experience a high temperature, headaches and aching arms and legs.
Norovirus is highly infectious and easily spread through contact with someone with the infection or contaminated surfaces.
Most people will make a full recovery within two to three days, but the agency urges those with the illness to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially the very young, elderly or those with weakened immune systems.
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“Please stay at home if you are experiencing norovirus symptoms and don’t return to work [particularly if you work with vulnerable people or food], or send sick children to school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared," Dr Larkin said.
“If you have a loved one in a care home or hospital, please avoid visiting until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared.
“Regular hand washing is really important to help stop the spread of this bug, but remember, alcohol gels do not kill off norovirus so washing with soap and warm water is best.”
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Will the pound fall to parity with the dollar?
The idea of pound parity now seems less far-fetched as the risk grows that Britain may split away from the European Union without a deal.
Rupert Harrison, a fund manager at BlackRock, sees the risk of it falling to trade level with the dollar on a no-deal Brexit. The view echoes Morgan Stanley’s recent forecast that the currency can plunge toward $1 (Dh3.67) on such an outcome. That isn’t the majority view yet – a Bloomberg survey this month estimated the pound will slide to $1.10 should the UK exit the bloc without an agreement.
New Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly said that Britain will leave the EU on the October 31 deadline with or without an agreement, fuelling concern the nation is headed for a disorderly departure and fanning pessimism toward the pound. Sterling has fallen more than 7 per cent in the past three months, the worst performance among major developed-market currencies.
“The pound is at a much lower level now but I still think a no-deal exit would lead to significant volatility and we could be testing parity on a really bad outcome,” said Mr Harrison, who manages more than $10 billion in assets at BlackRock. “We will see this game of chicken continue through August and that’s likely negative for sterling,” he said about the deadlocked Brexit talks.
The pound fell 0.8 per cent to $1.2033 on Friday, its weakest closing level since the 1980s, after a report on the second quarter showed the UK economy shrank for the first time in six years. The data means it is likely the Bank of England will cut interest rates, according to Mizuho Bank.
The BOE said in November that the currency could fall even below $1 in an analysis on possible worst-case Brexit scenarios. Options-based calculations showed around a 6.4 per cent chance of pound-dollar parity in the next one year, markedly higher than 0.2 per cent in early March when prospects of a no-deal outcome were seemingly off the table.
Bloomberg
