HEALTH experts last night warned that the highly contagious “winter vomiting” infection could spread rapidly unless people take measures to protect themselves and others.

The Norovirus infection is the most common gastro- intestinal infection in the UK, affecting 600,000 to 1m people every year.

While there has not yet been any significant numbers of norovirus infection cases this year, health agencies believe numbers will start to rise as the winter sets in.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) North West is urging people with symptoms not to visit their GP or hospital A&E units given the speed with which the infection can spread.

In extreme cases, this could lead to ward closures.

Dr Hilary Thurston, a health protection consultant with the HPA’s Cheshire and Merseyside Health Protection Unit, said: “Norovirus illness is unpleasant, but it is short-lived and people usually recover in anything from 12 to 60 hours without treatment, other than rest and the replacement of fluids.

“It is, however, a highly contagious infection that can spread rapidly when it gets into close-knit communities such as hospitals, residential care homes, schools and workplaces.