Winter vomiting bug at highest level in five years

The number of people who have caught the winter vomiting bug this year is higher than average, figures show.

So far there have been 1,704 cases, almost 10% more than in the past five years.

But the real number may be even higher as this number only reflects those who have sought NHS help after contracting the bug, also known as norovirus.

In hospitals there have been a further 100 outbreaks of the bug, report the BBC.

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This can have a double impact as discovery of the bug inside hospitals forces bed and ward closures.

Norovirus is a form of viral gastroenteritis.

It can strike any age group and cause vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms can last as long as three days.

Despite the slight increase in the number of cases, Public Health England (PHE) has warned people not to worry, saying the levels being seen were still within an expected range and it may just be a sign that norovirus is peaking earlier this year than previous ones.

“Norovirus is a common cause of illness during winter,” said Nick Phin of the PHE

“Exactly when the peak in activity occurs will be different each winter, but levels seen so far this year are not unexpected compared with the previous five years.”

At the same time, NHS England has released it first winter statistics of 2016, which showed eight hospitals declared a major alert in the first few days of December.

A major alert happens when there are bed shortages and patients have longer waiting times inside A&E.