Norovirus warning: Highly contagious winter vomiting bug spread through shopping trolleys
HEALTH chiefs have issued a winter vomiting bug warning amid fears a fresh outbreak could be spread on the handles of shopping trolleys.
Norovirus: How to prevent catching the virus
Shoppers are being urged to wash their hands thoroughly after visiting the supermarket to try to halt the spread of the dreaded norovirus. Swansea Bay University Health Board said shoppers should be aware of the vast number of people handling trolleys every day, potentially carrying bugs and viruses.
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It said: “Supermarket shopping trolley handles can be handled by hundreds of people every day.
“Please wash your hands thoroughly in soap and water when you get home, to reduce your risk of catching an infection like norovirus, and also colds or flu.”
Joanna Walters, the health board's infection prevention and control matron, also warned people to wash their hands after touching “TV remote controls, your mobile phone, light switches, door handles” and not to “share towels with people in your household”.
The norovirus winter vomiting bug is highly contagious and can cause sickness, diarrhoea, painful stomach cramps, high temperatures or fever.
It has already hit areas of the UK since temperatures dropped with hundreds of people been struck down with the illness.
Health experts reported outbreaks causing hospital wards and entire schools to close.
READ MORE: Norovirus outbreak: Hundreds of people struck down - the symptoms
Carnforth North Road Primary School in Lancashire was shut after 50 pupils and staff were reportedly struck down by norovirus and at a ward at Cannock Chase Hospital in Staffordshire visiting hours were restricted to just an hour a day due to an outbreak.
Similar restrictions were put in place at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, for four days and doctors told patients norovirus was “doing the rounds” in Hull and East Yorkshire.
Rock Ferry Primary School in Wirral also closed last month after a norovirus outbreak meant over 100 children were taken ill. Large numbers of staff were also affected
Public health officials said the easiest way to avoid it was by washing hands with soap at frequent intervals throughout the day, making sure cooking and work surfaces were kept disinfected, using individual towels and flannels and avoidig eating raw or unwashed produce.
The germs the cause the winter vomiting bug are most commonly caused by poor hygiene and can be transferred onto door handles, toilet handles and taps.
It is also spread through direct contact with someone infected, with the bug being spread through families and anywhere people are in close contact for example schools and offices.
Treatment is most commonly being given plenty of fluids to prevent or treat dehydration.
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Most people get over it within a day or two but the very young, elderly and those who have weakened immune systems can suffer for longer.
A Public Health England spokeswoman said: “The virus is easily transmitted through contact with infected individuals from one person to another.
“Outbreaks are common in semi-enclosed environments such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships and can also occur in restaurants and hotels.
“The virus is usually mild and lasts for one to two days.”
