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The Independent
27-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Experts warn of ‘second norovirus wave' with people catching bug more than once
Health leaders have warned of a 'potential second norovirus wave' – with people catching the vomiting bug more than once. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said people who have already had the virus this winter could be at risk again due to a shift in which strains are becoming dominant. The organisation – which tracks lab reports of the sickness bug – said having had one type of norovirus does not fully protect against other strains. Its data shows the recently emerged GII.17 genotype of norovirus has seen a surge in cases this winter but a different, commonly seen, genotype – GII.4 – is now on the rise. While the GII.17 genotype remains dominant, accounting for 59% of cases, its prevalence has dropped from 76% since November. Meanwhile, the GII.4 strain has seen a sharp rise, now representing 29% of cases compared to just 10% three months ago. The UKHSA reassured people that there is no indication that either GII.17 or GII.4 leads to more severe illness but said it is unclear whether norovirus cases have peaked for this winter. Amy Douglas, lead epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'Norovirus levels are still exceptionally high and now with multiple genotypes spreading at the same time, people could end up getting infected more than once this season. 'We are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as hospitals and care homes. ' Symptoms of norovirus can be more severe in older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised. 'If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don't prepare food for others, as you can still pass on the virus during this time. 'Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop infections from spreading.' It comes as new data from NHS England shows hospital norovirus cases remain close to the record high seen last week, with an average of 1,134 patients per day in hospital compared to 1,160. The figure is more than double (up 141%) the same period last year (470). NHS England said visits to the webpage on norovirus have risen by 40% in the last week – from 53,052 to 74,324. Meanwhile, the UKHSA lab data – representing a fraction of cases in the community – show confirmed cases in the two weeks from February 3 to 16 were 29.4% higher than the previous fortnight and more than double the five-season average for the same period. For every case reported in this national data, around 288 cases occur in the community, suggesting around three million cases annually in the UK. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said 'we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing'. He added: 'To help stop the spread of norovirus, the medical advice is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days. 'While pressures on hospitals remain incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'These statistics show that we are still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service. 'We have taken important steps to reduce winter pressures this year, including getting doctors back on the frontline, rather than the picket line, and introducing the country's first RSV vaccination scheme. 'Through the government's Plan for Change, we will deliver the investment and reform required to turn our health service around, so it will be there for all of us when we need it, once again.' The NHS England data released on Thursday also shows that time lost to ambulance handover delays rose by more than a fifth (22%) in the last week (to 22,796 hours compared with 18,688 the week before). Ambulance handover delays occur when ambulances arrive at A&E but are unable to hand patients over to staff due to units being busy. This means paramedics are unable to get back on the road to attend to other patients. Overall, the NHS data on Thursday showed that 95.3% of all NHS adult beds are full with patients, with 96,807 patients in hospital each day. Delays in discharging patients who are medically fit to leave hospital also remain high, with one in seven beds taken up by people who could be cared for elsewhere. The interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said: 'NHS wards are full to the brim with barely any spare beds… 'Pressure on emergency services continues to be a huge worry for trust leaders, with a worrying increase in staff time lost to ambulance handover delays last week. 'We need to do everything we can to get ambulance services back on the road so they can get to the sickest patients, fast.'
The Independent
27-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
New strain warning as second norovirus wave to hit UK
Health officials are warning of a possible second wave of norovirus this winter, adding that people who have already been ill may be vulnerable to catching the 'vomiting bug' again. This warning comes as the dominant strain of the virus appears to be shifting. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which monitors laboratory reports of norovirus, explained that immunity to one strain of the virus doesn't guarantee protection against others. Data reveals a recent surge in cases of the GII.17 norovirus genotype, although a more common genotype, GII.4, is now increasing in prevalence. While GII.17 still accounts for 59% of cases, its dominance has decreased from 76% since November, suggesting a potential shift in the circulating strains and raising concerns about a resurgence of infections. This means individuals who contracted the GII.17 strain earlier in the winter could be susceptible to the rising GII.4 strain. The UKHSA continues to monitor the situation and advises the public to practice good hygiene, including thorough handwashing, to minimize the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, the GII.4 strain has seen a sharp rise, now representing 29% of cases compared to just 10% three months ago. The UKHSA reassured people that there is no indication that either GII.17 or GII.4 leads to more severe illness but said it is unclear whether norovirus cases have peaked for this winter. Amy Douglas, lead epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'Norovirus levels are still exceptionally high and now with multiple genotypes spreading at the same time, people could end up getting infected more than once this season. 'We are seeing the biggest impacts in health and social care settings, such as hospitals and care homes. 'Symptoms of norovirus can be more severe in older adults, young children and those who are immunocompromised. 'If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, please do not visit hospitals and care homes or return to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after your symptoms have stopped and don't prepare food for others, as you can still pass on the virus during this time. 'Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus. Wash your hands with soapy warm water and clean surfaces with bleach-based products where possible to help stop infections from spreading.' It comes as new data from NHS England shows hospital norovirus cases remain close to the record high seen last week, with an average of 1,134 patients per day in hospital compared to 1,160. The figure is more than double (up 141%) the same period last year (470). NHS England said visits to the webpage on norovirus have risen by 40% in the last week – from 53,052 to 74,324. Meanwhile, the UKHSA lab data – representing a fraction of cases in the community – show confirmed cases in the two weeks from February 3 to 16 were 29.4% higher than the previous fortnight and more than double the five-season average for the same period. For every case reported in this national data, around 288 cases occur in the community, suggesting around three million cases annually in the UK. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said 'we can be under no illusions about the continued pressure staff are still facing'. He added: 'To help stop the spread of norovirus, the medical advice is to wash your hands frequently with soap and water and avoid mixing with other people until you have not had symptoms for two days. 'While pressures on hospitals remain incredibly high, people should continue to use NHS services in the normal way – using 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions, and only using 999 or attending A&E in life-threatening emergencies.' Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'These statistics show that we are still not out of the winter woods, and I want to thank all NHS staff for their hard work in the face of substantial pressures on the health service. 'We have taken important steps to reduce winter pressures this year, including getting doctors back on the frontline, rather than the picket line, and introducing the country's first RSV vaccination scheme. 'Through the government's Plan for Change, we will deliver the investment and reform required to turn our health service around, so it will be there for all of us when we need it, once again.' The NHS England data released on Thursday also shows that time lost to ambulance handover delays rose by more than a fifth (22%) in the last week (to 22,796 hours compared with 18,688 the week before). Ambulance handover delays occur when ambulances arrive at A&E but are unable to hand patients over to staff due to units being busy. This means paramedics are unable to get back on the road to attend to other patients. Overall, the NHS data on Thursday showed that 95.3% of all NHS adult beds are full with patients, with 96,807 patients in hospital each day. Delays in discharging patients who are medically fit to leave hospital also remain high, with one in seven beds taken up by people who could be cared for elsewhere. The interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said: 'NHS wards are full to the brim with barely any spare beds… 'Pressure on emergency services continues to be a huge worry for trust leaders, with a worrying increase in staff time lost to ambulance handover delays last week. 'We need to do everything we can to get ambulance services back on the road so they can get to the sickest patients, fast.'
The Independent
27-01-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Prostate cancer now most common cancer in UK as pressure grows for national screening
Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, according to new analysis - as a leading charity renewed its calls for a national screening program. NHS data found 55,033 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in England in 2023, compared to 47,526 breast cancer cases the same year. The data showed diagnoses of the disease overtook breast cancer in 2022 and 2023, said Prostate Cancer UK, which added that there has been a 25 per cent increase in cases between 2019 and 2023. It follows a rise in awareness of the disease with a series of high-profile names sharing their battles with the condition, including Stephen Fry, Nick Owen and Chris Hoy. Chiara De Biase, director of Health Services, Equity and Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: 'These new figures show that awareness is now growing across the UK, and we're proud to have played our part in this alongside our supporters and the NHS. 'More men than ever are learning about their risk, speaking to their GP about the PSA blood test, and then taking the best next steps.' The data has prompted the charity to renew its calls for a national screening programme. The NHS does not offer routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing for prostate cancer, but says people may be offered the test if their doctor thinks they have symptoms of the disease. Anyone aged over 50 can also ask for a PSA test. The NHS's UK national screening committee is reviewing the evidence for prostate cancer screening programmes. Ms de Biase said: ' At the moment, there's no screening programme for prostate cancer, and not every man has a fair shot at getting diagnosed earlier. 'We face a dreadful North-South divide in the UK, where you're more likely to get an incurable diagnosis in certain areas than others. Plus, men living in more deprived areas are less likely to get the treatments they need.' But Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Thanks to the hard work of NHS staff and our effective awareness campaigns, we are diagnosing more men with prostate cancer at an earlier stage than ever before, so they have the best possible chance of receiving effective treatment. 'We know that coming forward for prostate checks can be daunting, but it could save your life, so we would encourage men to consult the prostate cancer symptoms advice available on and to see their GP as soon as possible if they are concerned.' Ian Phillipson, 66, from Burghill in Herefordshire, said he spoke to his GP about getting tested for prostate cancer after seeing TV presenter Nick Owens speak about his own diagnosis. 'It sounds a bit melodramatic to say Nick Owen saved my life, but who knows if and when I would have found out I had prostate cancer if I hadn't caught him on TV that evening,' Mr Phillipson said. 'I had a couple of PSA blood tests, and the second one I had at the end of November 2023 indicated a high reading. After an MRI and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2024. I couldn't believe it – I hadn't felt ill or had any reason to suspect I had cancer. If I hadn't been watching the TV that day, I might not have got tested at all.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This is a grim milestone and while more men are getting checked, they are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment. 'Through our Plan for Change we are working to catch cancer earlier and treat it faster – opening community diagnostic centres for longer, launching 17 new surgical hubs across the country and investing in research.'
