A surge of an “unusual” strain of a horror vomiting bug is sweeping across the UK with experts issuing a grim warning.
Recent numbers from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shown a spike in the number of norovirus cases, with the country’s caseload increasing into the fifth week of 2025. As the Mirror reports, the latest date shows that activity remains significant and has recently “started to increase again”, with cases reportedly up by a stark 22.6 percent on the “five-season average.”
An “unusual phenotype” is being blamed for the soaring cases of the debilitating bug. It has sparked the UKHSA to release a warning alongside its latest figures suggesting that the UK faces a massive seven-figure “annual burden”.
In its latest findings, the UKHSA said the surge in new cases may have been a product of increased PCR testing, the new unusual type has likely contributed to the surge. The agency reports: “While some of the increased reporting may be attributable to the increased use of PCR multiplex technology (capable of detecting multiple gastrointestinal pathogens in one test), it is likely that the emergence of an unusual norovirus genotype, GII.17, as well as changes in the epidemiology following the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors are contributing to the observed rise.”
The agency has found cases of the new strain of the bug were observed across UK counties, with scientists keeping it under close monitoring. However, there is “no indication” that it causes more severe illness, the agency said, there may be many more cases looming in the general public than are currently known.
The report states: “Laboratory reports represent just a small proportion of total norovirus cases and it has been estimated that for every case of norovirus reported to national surveillance in the UK there are about 288 in the community that go unreported, representing an annual burden of around 3 million cases.”
Norovirus symptoms include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea but can also include a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs. Norovirus infections can cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and older or immunocompromised people.
Norovirus can usually be treated at home and it is important to rest and have lots of fluids to avoid dehydration. Patients will usually start to feel better in two to three days. In some very young and elderly people the condition can become serious and required.
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