Parents in West Wales are urged to monitor children for norovirus symptoms as cases rise ahead of school reopenings
Cardiff: Parents and caregivers in West Wales need to keep an eye out for norovirus symptoms in kids. Public Health Wales is sounding the alarm as cases are on the rise just before schools and nurseries open up again.
If your child has symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting, it’s best to keep them home for at least 48 hours after they feel better. This helps stop the virus from spreading.
In the week before December 22, norovirus cases jumped by 26 percent in Wales, going from 39 to 49 cases. That’s quite a spike! And looking back to the same time last year, cases are up by 42 percent.
Wendi Shepherd, who works in health protection at Public Health Wales, mentioned that this time of year usually sees more norovirus cases. It’s a common winter bug, but this year seems to be worse than last.
She emphasized the importance of keeping kids out of school or nursery for 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared up. It’s all about preventing the spread.
For anyone feeling under the weather, washing hands with soap and warm water for at least 30 seconds is crucial, especially after using the toilet or before cooking. Sharing towels? Not a good idea. If possible, use a separate toilet.
Wendi also pointed out that hand sanitizer doesn’t work against norovirus, so stick to good old soap and water. And if you’re feeling sick, it’s best to avoid cooking for others.
Public Health Wales reminds everyone that good hand hygiene can also help keep other seasonal bugs like flu and RSV at bay.
