SOMERSET’S doctors and public health advisers are reminding people that simple hand-washing with soap is still an effective way to reduce the risk of getting the winter sickness norovirus.

Norovirus, often called ‘winter vomiting disease’, causes unpleasant symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea.

With the onset of winter and more people spending time indoors and in close proximity to each other, the virus has the ideal opportunity to spread.

All it takes is someone with the highly infectious illness to fail to wash their hands after going to the toilet or to vomit in a confined space with other people and all risk being infected.

The symptoms of gastric illness that follow are seldom life-threatening, but the ease with which it spreads can causes major disruption to schools, care homes, hospitals and even hotels and cruise liners.

Trudi Grant, Somerset’s Director of Public Health said: “Outbreaks of norovirus infection is common. However, the impact on individuals and places like schools, care homes and hospitals can be limited if we all take some basic measures to help stop the virus spreading.

“Simple things like washing your hands properly, being very careful with the handling of food and avoiding contact with other people who show symptoms will all help avoid getting infected.

“Although most people will usually get better in a day or so, people who are physically frail can be affected far more severely. Extra care should be taken to prevent babies and small children who have diarrhoea and vomiting from dehydrating by giving them plenty of fluids.

“It is particularly important not to visit places like care homes or hospitals if experiencing symptoms of the virus.”

Dr Ed Ford, a Minehead GP and Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group’s chairman, said urged people not to visit their GP surgery or local A&E unit but to phone NHS 111 first.

He said people with the illness will recover naturally without treatment – but it is important to rest and keep hydrated.

“People infected by norovirus typically experience a sudden onset of nausea followed by projectile vomiting and watery diarrhoea.

“Some people also experience headaches, mild temperatures and stomach cramps. Symptoms can last 24 to 48 hours.

“There is no treatment for the virus but it is important to keep drink water to combat the loss of fluids. Most people will recover within a few days and there are no long-term effects.”