“This year seems to be a banner year for norovirus occurring — there’s a lot of cases being reported,” said Dr. Michael Sweat, the director of the Center for Global Health at the Medical University of South Carolina. The virus is typically most prevalent from November to April, he added.

Norovirus hospital cases have reached the highest level ever in England. There's an average of 1,160 patients a day ill in hospital, double the level at the same period last year and a 22% rise on last week,