Members of the public are being asked to take sensible precautions in case they suffer a bout of Norovirus during this winter.  

Norovirus – commonly known as winter vomiting disease – causes diarrhoea and vomiting and affects thousands of people in the UK every year. 

Anyone who suspects they have Norovirus should ensure they do not visit hospital, schools or care homes. 

It is highly infectious – and doctors locally are asking people to take precautions in the event of Norovirus being present in our community. 

Dr Terry Matthews, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control for the North Yorkshire and the Humber Health Protection Unit said: “Norovirus symptoms can come on suddenly and usually last between 24 to 48 hours. 

“Whilst the illness is unpleasant, it is not usually serious and the best advice is to follow good hand hygiene, stay at home and drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. 

“Avoid work, school or visiting hospitals and care homes – and only return after you have been free of diarrhoea and vomiting for at least 48 hours– during this time infectious viruses may still be present. 

“NHS Direct can provide you with further advice.  You do not usually need to consult your GP unless symptoms are very bad or continue beyond 48 hours as there is no specific treatment for Norovirus.” 

Dr Peter Cowling, Clinical Director for Microbiology at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust- said: “One of the worst things you can do is visit the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A and E) department.  

“Norovirus, because of its highly contagious nature, can quickly spread through a hospital and the only way to combat it once it gets into a hospital environment is to close wards to admissions, restrict visiting and wait for the outbreak to run its course. 

“This can be highly disruptive to patients in those and other wards. On some rare occasions it may lead to patients having surgery or other procedures cancelled.” Dr Matthews also gave some further advice on prevention in the community. 

“Of course, it is always good practice to wash your hands after visiting the toilet and before preparing food. “People with diarrhoea or vomiting should not prepare food for others until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have settled.” 

Dr Matthews added: “It is likely that people in the northern Lincolnshire and Goole communities will be affected by Norovirus during the coming winter – and we would ask people to follow our advice to minimise its effects on themselves and other people.” 

And Dr Cowling added: “If hospital patients are affected by Norovirus this winter it is likely that efforts to tackle it will include imposing visiting restrictions with no notice, closing wards to admissions, or moving patients around the hospital. 

“We will try to keep these inconveniences to a minimum, and apologise for the effects in advance. Hopefully by following our advice the effects of Norovirus in our hospitals and the wider community will be minimised.”