'If you've got these 3 symptoms, stay home' warns HSE amid baffling bug surge
Health officials are urging people to stay at home if they have three key symptoms, as Ireland is seeing an unusual off-season surge of a highly contagious bug.
Confirmed cases of Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, have nearly doubled in a week and it's spreading rapidly through the community - despite it being nearly June.
Norovirus usually surges in winter months, but health experts have warned that it is "currently circulating at high levels in the community", and could continue to do so for "the next number of weeks".
In the latest figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), 62 cases were reported in the last week - a jump of 28 cases (82.4%) from 34 cases the previous week.
The majority of cases (44) were among those aged 65 and older. The rest were spread across age groups with four cases each in the 45-64 and 25-44 brackets, one case in 19-24 year olds, and nine cases among children aged 0-4. No cases were reported in the 5-18 age group.
The illness, which causes a sudden vomiting and diarrhoea, is extremely infectious and can be caught through close contact, contaminated surfaces and airborne droplets. Symptoms usually appear one to two days after exposure and last for two to three days.
There's no cure or treatment for norovirus, and as it's a virus, antibiotics don't help. Most people recover at home with rest and plenty of fluids.
In an update issued this week, the HPSC said: "Norovirus, in most people, is an unpleasant but mild illness that passes off quickly without any treatment. It can usually be managed at home - drinking plenty of fluids is usually all that is needed."
The health officials advised anyone with symptoms to stay off work, school or social activities for at least 48 hours after symptoms have passed.
According to the HSE, you're likely to have norovirus if you:
Some people also have:
While the virus typically only lasts a few days, it spreads rapidly and can be especially dangerous in settings like hospitals, nursing homes and schools.
In a key public message this week, the HPSC urged people to follow these steps to help prevent further spread:
The HSE also reminded the public that norovirus can infect you more than once because it constantly mutates, meaning your body cannot build lasting immunity.
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