Flu positivity has also jumped to 17.1 per cent as the national booking system for the vaccine closes on 19th December
The government has warned people to get vaccinated against flu this year as people going to hospital with the illness has skyrocketed and an 'unusual' type of norovirus is spreading.
READ MORE: We are among the youngest to die in the UK – and the government is STILL refusing to commit to fixing our crumbling hospital Meanwhile, norovirus cases have more than doubled the average of the past five seasons, with 747 laboratory reports recorded in just two weeks - the highest in a decade. The virus has spread across all regions and age groups in England, with a notable increase among those over 65.
Historically, GII. 4 noroviruses have been the most prevalent worldwide, with the GII.4/Sydney/2012 variants being the most frequently detected since the winter of 2012. Currently, there's no evidence to suggest that GII.17 causes more severe illness, but further assessments are being conducted. To curb the spread of norovirus, it's advised to wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, as alcohol-based hand sanitisers are ineffective against the virus.
"The elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of suffering more serious illness from flu or norovirus, so if you have flu-like symptoms or diarrhoea or vomiting, avoid visiting people in hospital and care homes to prevent passing on the infection in these settings."
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