Households across the UK are being urged to boil wash clothing and bedding this November to stave off a nasty winter bug.
Norovirus is rife at this time of year and is currently spreading in the UK, so putting good preventative measures in place at home could stop you from getting ill this winter.
The stomach bug, which is known as the winter vomiting bug, is highly contagious and is linked to around 12,000 hospital admissions in the UK every year.
The virus causes gastroenteritis – an inflammation of the stomach and intestines – and causes an array of unpleasant symptoms which include sudden, watery diarrhoea and projectile vomiting. It can also cause you to suffer a slight fever, headaches, painful stomach cramps, and aching arms and legs.
Symptoms appear within one to two days of being infected and typically last around two to three days, but in some cases it can be longer.
The virus is spread very easily through contaminated food, water and surfaces, or through direct contact with someone who is infected with the bug.
It can also be caught by touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, and then touching your mouth, or eating food that has been prepared by someone with norovirus.
It’s possible to get norovirus more than once as the bug is always changing, meaning your body is unable to build up long-term resistance to it.
As such, it’s important to be vigilant this winter to lower your risk of catching it. It’s not always possible to avoid getting the virus, but the NHS says there are things you can do at home to stop it from spreading.
One of these is to wash items of clothing and bedding on a boil/hot wash to kill any virus particles that may be lingering.
Electronics brand Beko recommends washing your bed sheets at least once a week on a wash at 60C to prevent bugs from spreading.
Beko states: “If you have sensitive skin, but your appliance does not feature a dedicated Anti-Allergy programme, your bedding should be washed on a hot/boil wash at 60 degrees to help prevent infections from persisting or spreading.”
NHS advice also says you should avoid sharing towels and flannels and disinfect any surfaces or objects in your home that could be contaminated using a bleach-based household cleaner.
It’s also important to regularly wash your hands with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing or handling food. Households should also be aware that alcohol-based hand gels do not kill norovirus.
If you do catch norovirus you should stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after symptoms have stopped, and avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.
