Highly contagious winter vomiting bug cases surge as flu hospitalisations rise

Cases of a highly contagious winter vomiting bug continue to rise and the number of flu patients in hospitals hit its highest level this winter as NHS staff face a growing struggle to clear beds.

Norovirus cases in the first two weeks of January were 40 per cent higher than average for this time of winter, with reports of the illness highest in adults aged 65 and over.

Meanwhile, an average of 1,500 people were in hospital each day last week with flu, including 65 in critical care beds, according to NHS England.

The total is