Doctors' leaders warned people struck down by a violent stomach bug sweeping Britain not to return to work as GPs reported yesterday that they were 'inundated' with sufferers.
More than 100,000 people a week are catching norovirus, which causes sudden vomiting and diarrhoea, and the numbers contracting the disease will peak this month, it was reported last night.
Thousands of workers and children who fell ill over the holiday period are due to return to jobs and classrooms in the coming days. Many have already called in sick and doctors warn them not to go back until they are fully recovered, such is the risk of spreading the disease.
So far this winter about two million people have fallen ill with the norovirus, the highest number for five years and double the amount of cases by this time last year, according to reports.
Doctors warned people with the condition to stay away from GPs' surgeries and hospitals and to phone for advice to avoid further spread.
The bug usually last two days and can sweep through schools, offices, hospitals and prisons. It has struck passengers on the Queen Victoria cruise ship and cases have been found in more than a dozen hospitals.
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