Fifteen members of a family were confined to their beds after they were all struck with the norovirus bug.
The Goodwin family said they were left floored by a norovirus-type bug all within days of each other.
It comes after cases of the stomach bug have been reported in Devon, Cornwall, Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Wales.
However, Public Health England say the UK is not witnessing an outbreak, but advised those suffering with the bug to take measures to stop it from spreading.
David Goodwin, 28, from Manchester, was forced to take three days off work and could not leave his bed when he first came down with the sickness.
His parents, brothers, nieces and nephews, aged from 65 to eight, have all been affected by the virus.
It is believed David’s 20-year-old nephew was the first member of the family to pick up the virus, possibly on the plane while travelling home from a holiday in Spain.
David said: “It is not like a normal sickness. It comes on quickly.
“You have all the symptoms of the flu, headaches, cold and hot sweats.
“You are vomiting all of the time. It hits you within a day.
“It is so infectious, it is unbelievable. It has just been going through us.
“You catch it within a day or two. It leaves you with no appetite.”
The family say doctors have told them they are displaying all the symptoms of norovirus and asked them to stay at home rather than risk spreading it further by going into the surgery.
Instead they were given advice over the phone.
Dr Nick Phin, deputy director of Public Health England, said: “The number of laboratory reports for norovirus are in line with expected figures for this time of year, which is inconsistent with reports of an outbreak. PHE continually monitors laboratory reports of norovirus and other illnesses.
“Sickness and diarrhoea can be caused by different stomach bugs, including norovirus, and can be avoided by practicing good hygiene. This includes thorough hand washing with soap and hot water after using the toilet and before eating or preparing foods. Anyone with vomiting and diarrhoea should not be preparing food for others.”
