Norovirus levels reach ‘highest in more than a decade’ for this time of year

Cases of the highly infectious stomach bug have been surging in recent weeks, with hundreds of hospital beds filled by people with symptoms.

Combat norovirus sign (Alamy/PA)

Norovirus levels across the country are “the highest we have seen at this time of year in over a decade”, a doctor at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has warned.

Cases of the highly infectious stomach bug have been surging in recent weeks, with hundreds of hospital beds filled by people with symptoms, figures show.

Laboratory reports of norovirus are more than double the five-season average before the coronavirus pandemic, according to the UKHSA.