The Norovirus winter vomiting bug could have afflicted nearly 880000 people, as per the Health Protection Agency (HPA). The agency has also voiced that the number of cases of Norovirus, verified by the laboratory, is 83% higher than the same time in 2011.

The Norovirus winter vomiting bug has reportedly engulfed several corners of the nation, which has caused the closures of sizable hospital wards. The Norovirus has also tormented holidaymakers on the P&O Oriana luxury cruise ship, which resulted in hundreds of passengers suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.

Hitherto, there have been 3046 confirmed cases of Norovirus in England and Wales, as opposed to 1669 verified Norovirus cases in 2011. During the fortnight concluding December 16, there were 61 Norovirus winter vomiting bug outbreaks in hospitals in England. However, it is believed that, for every reported Norovirus case, there are a further 288 unreported sufferers of the Norovirus case.

Symptoms of Norovirus consist of sudden vomiting, diarrhoea, a temperature, headache and stomach cramps. The winter vomiting bug exists for a few days normally and disseminates quickly in closed environments such as schools, nursing homes and hospitals. Norovirus is immensely contagious and can be transmitted via touch with a disease-ridden person, infested surfaces and objects.

The Norovirus winter vomiting bug weakened numerous passengers on the P&0 Oriana luxury cruise ship this month. The passengers characterised their experience on the Oriana cruise ship as hellish, terrifying and utterly harrowing. The passengers also alleged that the captain and crew of the cruise ship refused to acknowledge the gravity of the Norovirus problem. The situation was so grave at P&O Oriana that there was the possibility of a scuffle erupting between some passengers and the crew of the ship.

The management of P&O Oriana, subsequently, expressed regret for the distress that the passengers underwent on the ship during their cruise.

The news of the increase in the Norovirus winter vomiting bug cases this year must be disconcerting for the people, who have been advised to maintain hygiene and adopt all necessary precautions.