Norovirus Business in England continued to increase, with laboratory reports to their highest level since the start of current files in 2014, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
On average, 1134 patients were hospitalized daily with Norovirus last week. Although this figure is slightly lower than 1160 of the previous week, it remains almost 2.5 times higher than the same period last year, when the average was 470.
Between February 3 and 16, the laboratory confirmed cases were 29.4% higher than the previous fortnight and more than double the average of five seasons for the same period, UKHSA data has shown.
“Norovirus levels are still exceptionally high, and now, with several genotypes spreading at the same time, people could end up being infected more than once this season,” said Amy Douglas, main epidemiologist at UKHSA, in a press release. “We see the biggest impacts in health and social care establishments, such as hospitals and care homes,” she added.
Professor Arlene Wellman, director of nursing for the group for the St George’s group, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, warned that once the Norovirus enters a hospital, he can spread quickly. “This can tear our services as forest fires, making patients even more sick,” she told Science Media Center (SMC).
Second potential wave driven by several strains
The increase in cases of this season has been associated with the recent emerged from the GII.17 genotype. However, the Latest data have shown that another common strain, GII.4, is now increasing.
Before GII.17 emerged, GII.4 was the dominant strain, generally increasing every winter.
Dr. Damien Tully, an associate professor in bioinformatics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, explained that GII.17 had only been responsible for 1% of cases in the last 7 years.
Although GII.17 remains the most common constraint, representing 59% of cases, its prevalence has increased from 76% since November. Meanwhile, the GII.4 strain has increased sharply, now representing 29% of cases – compared to only 10% 3 months ago, Ukhsa reported.
People who have already had norovirus this season have been reinfected, because immunity to a strain did not fully protect the others, warned the agency.
Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, noted that a double peak in cases of Norovirus is “not unusual”. He told SMC that it was “the norm” to see two different strains during a season, “although we tend to predominate”.
According to Tully, “the second wave, although a cause of concern, should not be entirely surprising, because the GII.4 strain dominated for more than a decade and is a difficult competitor.” He added: “Time will tell us if the new variant GII.17 – which evolved between three and six times faster compared to other GII variants. 17 – can end the reign at 12 years of GII.4 as a dominant strain.”
Pressure hospitals
Hunter suggested that the sharp increase in cases could be partly due to the increase in tests. “Tests for Norovirus have become more and more common in recent years following new technologies, and therefore part of this increase will be an artifact of increased tests,” he suggested. He also noted that a low population immunity, after a reduced exposure due to COVVI-19 measures, can contribute to overvoltage.
“Given the low prevalence of the current variant in recent years, most people have been sensitive to infection, which explains the huge increase in cases,” said Tully.
The hospital’s capacity remains under pressure, with 95.3% of the adult beds occupied last week and on average 96,807 patients in the hospital every day, Ukhsa reported.
“The NHS districts are barely full with spare beds,” said Saffron Cordery, acting managing director of NHS suppliers, in the press release. “A difficult situation is made even more difficult, with far too many patients trapped in the hospital – almost 1 in 7 – who are good enough to go home but cannot, often due to pressure on social and community care,,” she added.
Dr. Rob Hicks is a retired doctor from the NHS. A well -known television and radio broadcaster, he wrote three books and regularly contributed to national newspapers, magazines and online. It is based in the United Kingdom.