Norovirus: Vaccine to be trialled for vomiting bug

The impact of norovirus on the UK is considerable.

There is the human cost – every year, nearly four million people are infected by the sickness bug, 12,000 are admitted to hospital with it and there are 80 deaths.

The financial cost to the NHS runs to roughly £100 million annually.

Those most at risk are often older adults and the most vulnerable, including care home residents. But healthcare workers, childcare providers, flight attendants and cruise ship passengers and employees are often affected too.

Taking on lot of fluids is the only treatment for norovirus, to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Saul Faust, professor of paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said norovirus “placed a huge burden on healthcare systems”.

“Any infection increases frailty – and in the older population it’s difficult to reverse that,” he said.

Mobile units will be used in the trial so that researchers can go to care homes and give the vaccine to more people.

Eventually, if the vaccine shows at least 65% efficacy, and further trials take place, Prof Faust said it could be used to protect children too.

But that is likely to be several years off. In the meantime, researchers are focusing on collecting data which shows the vaccine reduces the risk of people becoming ill with norovirus. They will then send this information to the UK regulator to get approval for the jab.