Almost 100 hospital wards across the UK have been closed to new admissions because of stomach upsets caused by norovirus infections.This year the seasonal infections began early and, in the opinion of many GPs, are running higher than in previous years. Closures of wards to new admissions are the quickest way of controlling such infections. When a ward is closed, no new patients can be admitted and patients should not be moved to other parts of the hospital unless absolutely necessary.

Patients also have to wait 48 hours after symptoms have disappeared to make sure they are no longer infectious, so such closures may last for a week or more. New risks could be raised by the imminent return to school after the Christmas holiday, an expert said yesterday.

Professor Sally Bloomfield, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who chairs the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, said: “If the current outbreak of norovirus is to be contained before it spreads into offices and schools opening up for the new year, it needs to be tackled at source – in the home.

“Norovirus infections are transmitted like wildfire from person to person around families and other community groups unless good hygiene is practised.

“The International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene advises that although rigorous handwashing is the single most important hygiene measure, with norovirus we need to realise that when someone vomits, large numbers of virus particles are aerosolised which then settle on surfaces throughout the home – and can contaminate our hands if we touch them.

“To minimise the risks of infection by hand to mouth or hand to food contact we need good hand hygiene coupled with regular disinfection of hand contact surfaces such as door handles, tap handles, toilet seats, and so on.”

Norovirus causes a short-lived infection whose symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. The infection is not normally dangerous, but can be to very elderly patients in hospitals, who can suffer dehydration.

An HPA spokeswoman said: “A study by the HPA has shown that outbreaks of norovirus are shortened when control measures at healthcare settings are implemented quickly.”

This year’s outbreak started sooner than usual, and looks like involving more cases than in previous years. But estimates of actual numbers are largely guesswork, since most people do not even consult a doctor.

Hospitals are appealing to anybody suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea symptoms not to visit hospitals while they are unwell, to go in unnecessarily, or to take in small children.It is not yet clear whether this year’s total of cases will exceed last year’s, or whether it has simply been shifted forward in time, and is peaking sooner. The HPA estimates that in a typical year there are between 600,000 and 1 million cases.

Locked doors

East Midlands Chesterfield Royal: one ward Kettering General: one ward Skegness: one ward
East of England Addenbrooke’s, Cambridge: three wards Lister, Stevenage: two wards
London No wards
North East Newcastle General, Freeman Hospital and Royal Victoria Infirmary, all Newcastle-upon-Tyne: no wards
North West Royal Oldham: eleven wards Fairfield, Bury: three beds North Manchester General: ten beds Royal Preston: four wards Chorley: one ward Cumberland Infirmary: two bays in one ward Blackpool Victoria: one ward Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen: seven wards
Northern Ireland No wards
Scotland Aberdeen Royal Infirmary: one ward Fraserburgh: one ward Ayr: two wards Biggart, Prestwick: one ward
South Central Queen Alexandra, Portsmouth: two wards plus two rooms St Mary’s, Portsmouth: one ward Southampton General: three wards Royal Hampshire County, Winchester: one ward
South East Coast William Harvey, Ashford: two wards
South West Royal Cornwall Hospitals: two wards Royal Devon and Exeter: one ward Royal United, Bath: seven wards West Cornwall, Penzance: unspecified number of wards Southmead, Bristol: two wards Bristol Royal Infirmary: one ward Weston General: two wards Musgrove Park, Taunton: three wards Delancey, Cheltenham: one ward Paulton, Bristol: two wards
Wales Llandough: two wards University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff: one ward Ysbyty Bronglais, Aberystwyth: three wards Wrexham Maelor: five wards Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan: four bays across three wards
West Midlands Birmingham City: one ward Wolverhampton New Cross: four bays Walsall Manor: one ward Royal Shrewsbury: one ward University Hospital, Coventry: one ward
Yorkshire and Humber Leeds General Infirmary/St James’s, Leeds: six wards York: one ward Sheffield: five wards Bradford: two wards Source: BBC

Explore Health News

• Swine flu

Times Recommends

• 5 Christmas romance confessions
• Has champagne lost its sparkle?
• Your tailor-made Christmas