Norovirus cases are more than double the average for this time of the year according to a report from UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA).
The highly contagious winter vomiting bug has swept the nation over the last few weeks, but it is appearing earlier than usual - it usually spikes later in the year.
In their latest norovirus update, the UKHSA said: "Norovirus activity has remained high in recent weeks, with total norovirus laboratory reports between weeks 39 to 40 of 2024 more than double the 5-season average for the same 2-week period." Read more: First UK case of potentially deadly Mpox strain detected in London They add that norovirus activity has remained high this season but has started to increase in recent weeks.
Amy Douglas from the UK Health Security Agency, who specialises in epidemiology, said: "Norovirus levels have remained higher than expected recently and cases are likely to increase." Norovirus can be very unpleasant, but luckily it usually only lasts around two days.