The clinics in the northern hemisphere may be “flooded” by a combination of infections: H1N1 and norovirus.
Doctors in the northern hemisphere are preparing for what they say could be a “hard winter” due to the combination of two infections: swine influenza and norovirus. Figures released recently in the United Kingdom show a dramatic increase in cases of norovirus in recent weeks, which, experts say, could be the start of a nationwide outbreak.
At the same time there has been an increase in the number of cases of swine flu in the country, which was expected due to the “second wave” of the H1N1 virus.
So health officials are warning patients not seeking to severe symptoms to stay home so that health workers can concentrate on more serious cases.
The Norovirus (or Norwalk virus) are the most common cause of acute gastroenteristis (stomach infection) whose symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fever and malaise.
It is transmitted primarily by fecal-oral route, either by consuming contaminated food and water, the spread from person to person or contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
Often called “winter vomiting syndrome” or “intestinal flu” (though not an influenza) because pathogens circulating more frequently during the winter months, although they can occur throughout the year.
