Outbreak Has UK Wards Closing Doors

Dozens of hospital wards across the UK have shut their doors in an effort to stop the spread of a vomiting virus that has already infected more than 2 million nationwide. With 100,000 new patients per week, many already-overflowing hospitals have been forced to cancel non-emergency operations and focus exclusively on the norovirus outbreak, the Guardian reports.

The virus can spread through contact with the infected, or through contaminated food, water or other objects, putting hospital staff and schoolchildren at especially high risk. In one Norfolk hospital, 150 doctors and staff have been infected in the past 2 months. While not deadly, the bug is particularly vicious, causing intense vomiting and diarrhea for up to 60 hours. (More virus stories.)