The government has ordered that you should not go to work if you are infected with a virus that is currently raging in the UK.

According to the UKHSA, confirmed cases of norovirus are about 75 percent higher than the average over the past five years. The health authority issued a warning about the virus after noticing a sharp increase in cases over the past two weeks.

Normally, norovirus cases decline in the spring, but this year that is not the case, experts said. Symptoms of the virus, also known as the “winter vomiting virus,” include vomiting, nausea and diarrhea.

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The virus usually survives for about two days. Experts say the colder weather is unlikely to have contributed to the increase in cases.

Amy Douglas, norovirus epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Norovirus levels were higher than usual for this time of year in April and continue to rise. This is probably due to a combination of factors, but the colder weather we have had will not have helped.”

“Norovirus can cause dehydration, especially in vulnerable groups such as young children and the elderly or immunocompromised, so if you get sick it’s important to drink plenty of fluids. If you have diarrhea and vomiting, there are steps you can take to avoid passing on the infection.

“Do not return to work, school or daycare until 48 hours after your symptoms have subsided, and do not prepare food for others during this time. If you feel unwell, avoid visiting hospitals and nursing homes to prevent transmission of the infection in these facilities.

“Washing hands with soap and warm water and using products that contain bleach to clean surfaces also help prevent the spread of infection. Alcohol gels do not kill norovirus, so do not rely on them alone.”

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