England’s hospitals are treating hundreds of patients with winter vomiting bug norovirus after cases jumped by a fifth week-on-week.

Some 784 people were on wards with symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea last week, up from 650 during the previous week.

It was the highest number of admissions for norovirus recorded in any January since 2020, the NHS said.

Norovirus is spread easily through close contact with an infected person, touching contaminated surface or eating food prepared by someone with the virus.

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading, according to the NHS website. However, alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.

Cooking food thoroughly and washing fruits and vegetables, disinfecting surfaces and washing laundry in hot water can also reduce risk.

The condition can usually be treated at home and patients are advices to consume plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Meanwhile, the number of patients suffering from flu has dropped significantly from a peak of more than 5,000, to 3,833 last week, including 176 in intensive care.

Over a thousand patients on average (1,071) were in hospital with Covid and 29 children with RSV.

Hospital bed occupancy remained worryingly high at 96%, with one in seven adult beds (13,710) taken up by patients who were medically fit to be discharged.

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS national clinical director for urgent and emergency care said: “NHS hospitals have been hit by a surge in norovirus cases over the last week - with the highest level recorded since January 2020.

“This, along with higher than normal rates of flu and other winter viruses – and continued issues in delays in discharging patients – means hospitals remain extremely busy with patients.

“Staff are working incredibly hard to see patients as quickly as possible, and it is welcome news that flu cases have now peaked.
“Patients should continue to use 111 and 111 online if you need advice and support for health conditions and call 999 or go to A&E in life-threatening emergencies.””

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said hospitals were “still facing significant pressure and patients continue to face unacceptable levels of care this winter”.

He added: “It’s welcome that flu rates are starting to decline and ambulance handovers are improving – but we’re not out of the woods yet.

"If you're eligible, it's not too late to get your flu vaccination - contact your local pharmacy or GP to protect yourself this winter."