Map shows England's norovirus and RSV hotspots as cases spike ahead of Christmas

Norovirus is a disease is characterised by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra)

Hundreds of people across England are suffering with winter sickness bugs as we approach Christmas.

The number of cases of norovirus and RSV have been ‘creeping up’ in recent weeks, according to the NHS.

Norovirus is the most common infectious cause of diarrhoea and vomiting and the number of cases always spikes in the winter months.

Meanwhile RSV – short for respiratory syncytial virus – is a typical virus that usually affects children and causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can become more serious.

Despite being common, health chiefs have warned there could be further increases and growing pressure on emergency NHS departments due to the combined impact of cold weather, social mixing at Christmas parties and looming strike action by junior doctors.

Some hospitals have even started banning visitors due the surge in patients with bugs.

‘We are experiencing extremely high demand for our emergency care services, and with the recent cold spell, there is significant pressure on A&E departments,’ said Dr Peter Williams, medical director for Mersey and West Lancashire’s NHS Trust.

RSV cases have risen in England in recent weeks (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra)

‘Infection rates in the local community for illnesses such as diarrhoea and vomiting are on the rise, with winter respiratory viruses including flu and Covid infections also remaining prevalent.’

The most recently published data published by the NHS this week shows the number of norovirus cases has continued to rise.

Hospital cases are up 15% on the previous week to an average 406 people each day – a 28% increase on the same week last year.

RSV cases are also increasing, with data showing in the week to December 3 that an average of 146 children were in hospital each day with the virus, up 11% on both last year and the previous week (131).

Norovirus and RSV hotspots in England

The North East and Yorkshire has the highest number of norovirus and RSV cases of any region in England (Picture: Metro UK/ NHS data)

NHS stats show the number of beds occupied by patients suffering with norovirus in England currently, as well as beds unoccupied to avoid the virus spreading.

The worst-affected region of the UK is the North East and Yorkshire with 255 beds closed for norovirus and RSV patients.

The North West is second with 125 beds taken up, while the Midlands has 69, the South East 89 and the South West 49.

Within the North East and Yorkshire, the trusts under the most strain are North Cumbria with 56 beds in use, South Tees (51) and Leeds (42).

The Countess of Chester Hospital is limiting visitors due to a spike in winter vomiting bug cases (Picture: Google)

According to MailOnline, the trust which oversees Ellesmere Port Hospital and the Countess Of Chester Hospital said it was limiting visitors due to a spike in cases, which had forced it to close one ward.

And on Friday, four wards at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough were shut because of a winter vomiting bug, reports the BBC.

‘Norovirus cases in the community are currently high,’ Jo Carter, the lead nurse for infection prevention and control at the trust, said.

‘If you have any symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting, please do not visit the hospital as this increases the risk of transmission to our patients and staff.’

The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough closed four wards (Picture: Google)

In the North West, the Stockport (62) and Mersey and West Lancashire (49) trusts have the highest number of beds occupied.

Elsewhere, Southampton has a high number of cases with 62 beds taken up for norovirus and RSV.

Professor Julian Redhead, NHS England’s national clinical director for urgent and emergency care, said: ‘This latest data will come as no surprise to those of us working on the frontline, who are seeing the number of people coming to emergency departments and patients in hospital with viruses like flu, RSV, and norovirus creeping up, and continued Covid pressure.

‘The measures we set out in our urgent and emergency care recovery plan and winter preparations earlier this year are having an impact, with more than twice the number of NHS 111 calls being answered within a minute, and almost 1,400 more general and acute hospital beds open compared to the same time last year.

Hundreds of patients across England have been hospitalised with winter sickness bugs (Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

‘Demand on hospitals and staff remains high, and as we experience more spells of cold weather and people gathering indoors for festive events and end of year celebrations, we expect to see a continued increase in winter viruses spreading in the community and in some cases, this will lead to hospital admissions.

‘And now we are also preparing to mitigate the impact of the latest strikes this Christmas, once more prioritising urgent and emergency care – including emergency surgery – to protect patient safety and ensure those in life-saving emergencies can receive the best possible care.

‘So the public can continue to play their part by using NHS services in the usual way and calling 999 in an emergency and using NHS 111 for other health conditions, and by getting their flu and Covid jabs if eligible.’

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