Beat the super norovirus that's sweeping Britain and causing misery with aggressive sickness: Truth about hand-sanitiser, how long to isolate... and why you must avoid ibuprofen

Britain is battling an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus that’s being fuelled by a new, highly transmissible form of the infection. The new norovirus variant, nicknamed ‘Kawasaki’ after the Japanese city where it was first detected, does not trigger more severe symptoms than previous outbreaks, but it is thought to be far more infectious. The new norovirus variant, nicknamed ‘Kawasaki’ after the Japanese city where it was first detected, does not trigger more severe symptoms than previous outbreaks, but it is thought to be far more infectious The biggest risk from catching it is dehydration, says Professor Paul Hunter, a virus expert at the University of East Anglia. ‘Ventilation in the bathroom is really important if someone in your household has been infected – make sure you have a working fan and I would advise you don’t use the toilet straight after them.’ Professor Mark Fielder, a virus expert at Kingston University, adds: ‘A good clean of all the surfaces in your house is critical, as the virus can live for a long time in this environment. ‘Yes, cases are high, but norovirus comes around every year and the vast majority of people never know about it,’ he says.