Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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Latest Norovirus outbreak figures in hospitals show marked improvement over last year
The latest Health Protection report on suspected and laboratory-confirmed reported norovirus outbreaks in hospitals (England) and norovirus laboratory reports (England and Wales), shows that currently we are making improvements in combatting the virus.
The hospital norovirus outbreak reporting scheme (HNORS) recorded 66 outbreaks occurring between weeks 1 to 4, 2019, 65 of which (98%) led to ward/bay closure or restriction to admissions and 43 of which (65%) were recorded as laboratory confirmed due to norovirus.
From week 1 (week beginning 31 December 2018) to week 4 (week beginning 21st January 2019), 66 outbreaks have been reported. A total of 98% (65) of reported outbreaks resulted in ward/bay closures or restrictions to admissions and 65% (43) were laboratory confirmed as due to norovirus.
The NHS website warns that we can catch norovirus from:
* close contact with someone with norovirus
* touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
* eating food that's been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus
"Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels don't kill norovirus," it says.
21st February 2019