Thousands of people struck down by a severe stomach bug sweeping the UK have been advised to stay at home in an attempt to halt the outbreak.
More than 100,000 people a week are catching norovirus - also known as the "winter vomiting virus" - which causes vomiting and diarrhoea, but the figure could double this month, experts said.
The Health Protection Agency, which monitors infectious diseases, said the outbreak is the worst since 2002, with around two million people infected so far.
An HPA spokeswoman said: "This season we have seen an increase in reports of norovirus cases, almost double the number reported for the same period last year."
Anyone affected by the virus should remain at home until 48 hours after they last suffered symptoms, says the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Professor Steve Field, the RCGP chairman, said the number of new cases each week could top 200,000 with children contracting the bug at school and then infecting their parents.
He said: "The number of norovirus cases this year is the highest in five years. Hospitals have been inundated by referrals and through casualty. Local GPs are also seeing a huge number of cases.
"People are at home with it over the holiday, which is the best place for them, then next week the schools go back and you get a child outbreak and the children go home and give it to their parents.
"My advice for those affected is to stay at home, take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids. You should also wash your hands regularly so you don't infect anyone else and stay at home two days after the symptoms have gone."
Norovirus is highly contagious but not usually dangerous. However, young children and frail elderly people are at risk of complications from dehydration and may require hospital treatment.
There is no specific treatment for the virus apart from letting the illness run its course. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after becoming infected and last for 12 to 60 hours. Most people make a full recovery within one or two days.
The bug can be spread by contact with an infected person, though contaminated food or water, or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
Outbreaks are common in hospitals, care homes, schools and nurseries, as well as on cruise ships.
ewwww
here
Stomach bug outbreak worst in UK for five years
hope you are feeling better, I hope none of our lot get that, it could last months in our house!
closed hospitals! wtf?
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