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Entry title:

Norovirus

Last updated on Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 09:30am

Overview

Norovirus is also known as the winter vomiting bug. It causes gastroenteritis which can lead to vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. Symptoms often start suddenly.

Norovirus spreads easily from person to person. It can spread through contact with someone who has the infection or through contaminated surfaces, environments or food. Most people recover within a few days and can manage their symptoms at home. Some people are more likely to become seriously ill or have symptoms for longer. This includes young children, older people and people who are immunocompromised. They may need medical advice or treatment.

Norovirus outbreaks are common in places where people are in close contact with each other. These include hospitals, care homes, schools and cruise ships. Outbreaks can also occur in restaurants and hotels.

Norovirus activity increases each year during the winter. This can put additional pressure on health and social care services.

UKHSA monitors norovirus activity and the strains that are circulating in England. This helps identify new or unusual strains quickly. It also helps UKHSA understand trends and take action to reduce the spread of norovirus and protect people at higher risk.

Data is published weekly from mid-autumn to mid-spring. It is published monthly from mid-spring to mid-autumn.

Norovirus laboratory reports (2025/26 and 2026/27 season)

Weekly number of positive norovirus laboratory reports in England

Up to and including week beginning 19 Oct 2026

ChartThere are 2 plots on this chart. The horizontal X-axis is labelled 'date'. Whilst the vertical Y-axis is labelled 'metric'. This is plot number 1 on this chart. This is a dark blue solid bar plot. The plot has a label of 'Count'. This plot shows data for norovirus. Specifically the metric 'norovirus_cases_count' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 30 June 2025 to 19 October 2026. It fell from 81.0 on 30 June 2025 to 66.0 on 15 September 2025. It rose from 75.0 on 22 September 2025 to 279.0 on 08 December 2025. It rose from 255.0 on 15 December 2025 to 430.0 on 02 March 2026. It fell from 324.0 on 09 March 2026 to 290.0 on 18 May 2026. It fell from 207.0 on 25 May 2026 to 126.0 on 03 August 2026. And finally. It fell from 136.0 on 10 August 2026 to 77.0 on 19 October 2026. This is plot number 2 on this chart. This is a black dash line plot. The plot has a label of '5-season average'. This plot shows data for norovirus. Specifically the metric 'norovirus_cases_count' for the England area, along with the age banding of 'all' for the gender group of all. This plot shows data from 30 June 2025 to 19 October 2026. It fell from 93.4 on 30 June 2025 to 71.8 on 15 September 2025. It rose from 79.4 on 22 September 2025 to 243.4 on 08 December 2025. It rose from 247.6 on 15 December 2025 to 371.6 on 02 March 2026. It fell from 343.0 on 09 March 2026 to 145.6 on 18 May 2026. It fell from 111.4 on 25 May 2026 to 87.2 on 03 August 2026. And finally. It rose from 76.6 on 10 August 2026 to 125.0 on 19 October 2026. There is no reporting delay period being tracked for the data on this chart. - Refer to tabular data.
Tabular data

Norovirus laboratory reports (2025/26 and 2026/27 season) data for weekly number of positive norovirus laboratory reports in England

Up to and including week beginning 19 Oct 2026

Date Count 5-season average
19 Oct 202677.00125.00
12 Oct 202677.00127.40
5 Oct 202695.00111.60
28 Sep 2026102.0094.80
21 Sep 202679.0082.60
14 Sep 202695.0072.20
7 Sep 202698.0069.20
31 Aug 2026105.0070.20
24 Aug 2026127.0077.60
17 Aug 202698.0073.80
10 Aug 2026136.0076.60
3 Aug 2026126.0087.20
27 Jul 2026111.0082.00
20 Jul 2026134.0087.00
13 Jul 2026110.0091.80
6 Jul 2026121.0094.20
29 Jun 2026130.00102.40
22 Jun 2026141.0094.60
15 Jun 2026201.00107.80
8 Jun 2026204.00115.00
1 Jun 2026186.00113.00
25 May 2026207.00111.40
18 May 2026290.00145.60
11 May 2026307.00176.20
4 May 2026263.00182.00
27 Apr 2026353.00189.80
20 Apr 2026320.00239.20
13 Apr 2026387.00240.00
6 Apr 2026334.00280.80
30 Mar 2026399.00299.80
23 Mar 2026410.00297.00
16 Mar 2026365.00334.00
9 Mar 2026324.00343.00
2 Mar 2026430.00371.60
23 Feb 2026552.00320.00
16 Feb 2026518.00348.00
9 Feb 2026554.00368.40
2 Feb 2026618.00344.00
26 Jan 2026587.00314.60
19 Jan 2026610.00296.40
12 Jan 2026627.00273.80
5 Jan 2026522.00254.40
29 Dec 2025344.00254.00
22 Dec 2025219.00235.00
15 Dec 2025255.00247.60
8 Dec 2025279.00243.40
1 Dec 2025309.00246.60
24 Nov 2025239.00213.80
17 Nov 2025151.00179.20
10 Nov 2025155.00166.40
3 Nov 2025169.00143.20
27 Oct 2025154.00119.60
20 Oct 2025137.00117.40
13 Oct 2025156.00108.40
6 Oct 2025114.00104.20
29 Sep 202599.0088.40
22 Sep 202575.0079.40
15 Sep 202566.0071.80
8 Sep 202569.0067.20
1 Sep 202562.0067.20
25 Aug 202569.0072.20
18 Aug 202561.0070.20
11 Aug 202585.0066.80
4 Aug 202583.0078.00
28 Jul 202589.0073.60
21 Jul 202589.0078.80
14 Jul 2025101.0084.20
7 Jul 202590.0084.40
30 Jun 202581.0093.40
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About

Norovirus data is reported by season rather than by calendar year. This captures the winter peak of norovirus activity within one reporting period. Each season starts in week 27 of the year. It runs from about July in one year to June the following year. The 5-season average is based on the same period in the previous 5 seasons. The 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons are not included in the average. This is because norovirus activity and testing were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during these seasons.

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