NHS facing ‘second surge’ in vomiting virus as cases reach highest level this winter

The NHS is facing a “second surge” of norovirus as cases of the vomiting bug reach their highest level so far this winter.

NHS figures published today show the average number of patients in hospital with diarrhoea, vomiting or norovirus-like symptoms each day this week rose to 1012 – up 8.9 per cent on the 929 cases the previous week.

The average number of norovirus patients in hospitals per day surged from 361 at the start of January to 950 by the end of the month.

Although cases of the vomiting bug did stabilise at the beginning of February, figures have now been rising again for the second week in a row, prompting fears of a second wave.

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Source: The Independent, 19 February 2026