HPR volume 15 issue 7: news (7 May 2021)

Updated 19 January 2022

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National norovirus surveillance ongoing in 2021

Public Health England’s Gastrointestinal Pathogens Unit (GPU) monitors national norovirus activity in England and provides a norovirus characterisation service to support national surveillance and outbreak management. A significant and sustained reduction in norovirus outbreaks and norovirus-positive laboratory reports has been observed since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It is likely that interventions to control COVID-19 have also been effective in reducing transmission of norovirus and rotavirus, such as increased hygiene measures, social distancing and limiting contact with people from different households.

Norovirus has the potential to disrupt NHS services and is a key contributor to winter pressures. This is because norovirus is able to persist on hard surfaces and spread quickly through environments where lots of people have close contact with others. Outbreaks often lead to closure of hospital wards, schools or nurseries.

GPU advises awareness around the possibility of a rise in norovirus activity over the coming months as national COVID-19 control measures are relaxed, which would be unusual as norovirus activity is typically highest during the winter months. It is important to continue practising thorough hand washing with soap and warm water, especially after using the toilet and before eating or preparing foods. Hand washing remains the best way to prevent spread of the virus as alcohol and antibacterial hand sanitisers are not effective against norovirus.

Individuals who have diarrhoea and vomiting should not return to school or work until 48 hours after symptoms have disappeared; they should avoid visiting GP surgeries, care homes and hospitals if they have symptoms. If anyone has symptoms and is concerned, they should contact NHS 111 or talk to their GP by phone.

The risk of unusual norovirus activity following the relaxation of COVID-19 control measures has been considered by GPU scientists in a recent contribution to the Journal of Hospital Infection.

The GPU norovirus surveillance team will continue to closely monitor all available surveillance data. In order to enable effective molecular surveillance during this period, it is crucial that laboratory confirmed norovirus samples are referred on to the Enteric Virus Unit for characterisation. This is so that any unusual norovirus activity, including novel strain emergences or replacement events, are detected as early as possible.

PHE launched a new bulletin in December 2020 to provide an overview of activity in England during the 2020 to 2021 winter. The latest norovirus and rotavirus surveillance data is available at National norovirus and rotavirus bulletin.

Enquiries should be directed to: NoroOBK@phe.gov.uk