Winter vomiting (viral gastroenteritis) - frequently asked questions for patients and visitors

Winter vomiting is commonly used to describe norovirus infection, a highly contagious cause of vomiting and diarrhoea that can spread quickly in healthcare settings. Norovirus outbreaks occur year-round but are more common in the autumn and winter months

What causes winter vomiting?

Winter vomiting is usually caused by norovirus, a virus that infects the stomach and intestines. It spreads easily from person to person, through contaminated surfaces, food, water, or contact with vomit or diarrhoea.

Outbreaks can occur anywhere, including hospitals, care homes, schools, and other places where people are in close contact.

Why is winter vomiting a problem?

Norovirus is very infectious and can spread rapidly among patients, visitors and staff. In hospitals, outbreaks can lead to ward closures, delayed procedures, and increased risk for vulnerable patients. Because the virus spreads so easily, infection control measures are important to protect patients, visitors and staff.

How do hospitals help prevent it?

When there are high levels of this infection in the community, it is very difficult to prevent patients, staff and visitors bringing the infection into hospital.

Hospitals reduce the spread of norovirus by identifying suspected cases early, isolating affected patients where possible, and increasing cleaning of toilets, shared areas, and frequently touched surfaces.

Staff caring for affected patients may wear gloves and aprons, and they should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with patients or contaminated environments.

How will I know I have winter vomiting?

Symptoms usually begin suddenly and commonly include vomiting, diarrhoea, nausea, and sometimes a mild temperature, headache, or body aches.

Most people recover within 1 to 3 days, and antibiotics do not help because norovirus is caused by a virus, not bacteria.

How will this affect my care in hospital?

If you develop symptoms on the ward, the team will continue to provide your care while taking steps to prevent spread to others. This may include moving you to a side room or cohort area, postponing non urgent investigations or procedures and applying additional infection control precautions.

What treatment will I have?

There is no specific treatment for norovirus. The main priority is to prevent dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids, and in more severe cases medical staff may provide fluid replacement support.

If needed, as stool sample may be tested to confirm the cause and rule out other infections.

Can I still have visitors?

If a ward is closed to visitors because of a norovirus outbreak, visiting will not be permitted except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the nurse in charge.

If the ward is not closed but there are isolated cases, visitors may be asked to keep visits to a minimum, and some people, especially children, older adults, or anyone vulnerable, may be advised to delay visiting.

What precautions should visitors take?

Visitors must clean their hands with soap and running water when entering and leaving the ward and after contact with the patient or the patient’s surroundings. Alcohol hand sanitiser is less effective against norovirus than soap and water, therefore hand washing is the preferred method. If staff advise further precautions are needed, visitors should follow those instructions exactly.

If I have had winter vomiting recently, can I come into hospital?

Anyone with vomiting or diarrhoea should not visit hospital until they have been symptom free for at least 48 hours. This includes patients, visitors and anyone coming into the hospital for other reasons. This helps reduce the risk of bringing norovirus into the hospital environment.

Further information:

For specific advice about visiting rules, masks, or infection precautions, please check the hospital’s current visitor information before you travel.

References:

1. NHS (2025) Norovirus (vomiting bug (opens in a new tab)).
2. UK Health Security Agency (2025) Guidance (opens in a new tab) on norovirus infection and outbreaks.
3. UK Health Security Agency and NHS England (2024) Infection prevention and control guidance for noroviru (opens in a new tab)s in healthcare settings.