A doctor has explained why he thinks the 'winter vomiting bug' is sweeping across the United Kingdom ahead of the colder, dark months.
The highly contagious norovirus is making its way across the UK, with cases far higher than normal for this time of year.
So far this autumn, cases are 30 percent higher than usual for the two week period in to the start of October.
In real terms, that means we are seeing 100 percent more infections than normal for this time of the year.
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Norovirus is called the winter vomiting bug because, well, it does just that. You're likely to get pretty sick, and if you're lucky enough to avoid that, you could be left feeling incredibly nauseous.
You're also likely to have a nasty case of diarrhoea, with headaches and arm and leg aches also really common across the board.
But why is it spreading? LADbible spoke to one doctor who gave us his thoughts.
Why is norovirus spreading in the UK?
Speaking to Dr Ramit Singh Sambyal, a doctor and general physician who works with ClinicSpots, LADbible asked why cases are spreading more than normal for a standard autumnal season.
For Dr Sambyal, there are a number of factors that could be at play, with some of them going back to the Covid pandemic.
“There are a few reasons why norovirus cases might be spiking earlier than expected," Dr Sambyal said.
"For one, we’re seeing an increase in person-to-person contact now that most COVID-related restrictions are behind us. More gatherings, more indoor activities, and people spending more time together in close quarters all contribute to higher transmission rates."
Dr Sambyal added: “Another factor could be the natural seasonal pattern of norovirus. While it’s most common in the winter months, it’s not unusual to see cases start rising in autumn. The virus thrives in cooler weather when people spend more time indoors, and ventilation isn’t as good, making it easier for the virus to spread.
“Interestingly, there’s a lesser-known theory that the pandemic may have disrupted normal viral patterns.
"With lockdowns and social distancing, norovirus cases were abnormally low for a couple of years. Now, as normal life resumes, our collective immunity may have weakened slightly, allowing the virus to spread more easily this season.”
Should I be worried about norovirus?
Dr Sambyal explains that while norovirus makes you sick, there is usually not much danger beyond being under the weather if you're fit and healthy. You kind of just have to ride out the storm.
The main thing to worry about is dehydration, with people losing a lot of fluids through the symptoms of getting the winter vomiting bug.
"Dehydration that can result from the fluid loss is something to keep an eye on, particularly in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems," the doctor explains.
Tom Earnshaw