Infections from the debilitating norovirus stomach bug will peak as we move towards the Easter holiday as millions take the first vacation of the year, the government has warned.
Infections from the debilitating norovirus stomach bug will peak as we move towards the Easter holiday as millions take the first vacation of the year the government has warned.
People are advised to protect themselves by washing their hands thoroughly at all times.
Hotels and cruise liners can be particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.
The virus, which was responsible for closing more than 100 hospital wards last week, can also be guarded against by disinfecting bathrooms and washing cups and dishes properly.
UK health minister Ivan Lewis said: "We want to get the message across to everyone that washing your hands properly with soap and warm water, or even an alcohol gel, can help reduce the spread of infections and help protect you, your family and those around you".
Anubis Healthcare received a call from one of the largest hotels in Yorkshire where there had been an outbreak of Norovirus and 60 guests and staff had been infected and they were suffering from sickness and diarrhoea.
The infections rapidly grew to 120.
On Thursday morning it had arranged for delivery of fogging equipment and Activ8 vaporising fluid.
It also took a delivery of Activ8 floor cleaner disinfectant, wipes, ready to use trigger sprays and Softalind alcohol hand sanitiser.
The staff were given brief training and awareness in infection control and we set to work fogging the entire hotel and training the staff in the correct use of the other products.
The company also arranged for Softalind alcohol hand sanitiser to be placed in appropriate areas in the hotel and guests were advised how to use it.
Added to this they presented the hotel with an infection control procedure manual.
Every area of the hotel was fogged with the fluid and the use of the other products started immediately.
They assisted staff and worked on site with them over the weekend and into Monday.
By Tuesday morning there were only tghree cases of infection and the hotel was completely clear of cases by the following weekend.
During this time environmental health officers visited the hotel and they were so impressed with the work in hand they allowed it to remain open.
The hotel management calculated that they would have suffered a revenue loss of £180,000 over just one weekend had the hotel been forced to close.
All staff have now received infection control training and the hotel has the benefit of a standard operating procedure provided by Anubis Healthcare.
