Winter vomiting bug afflicts 3m earlier than usual

London: Three million people have been struck down by the winter vomiting bug - with experts fearing that cases could rise through this month and next.

The norovirus season began a month earlier than normal this winter. Cases of the bug increased rapidly, with more than 200,000 people a week now catching the infection, official figures claim.

Hospitals struggling to cope have closed hundreds of wards to new patients. Three hospitals have been put on red alert because of a critical shortage of beds caused by people falling ill with the bug.

Some schools are sending letters to parents telling them of norovirus symptoms to look out for and asking them to keep children at home for 48 hours after the infection has cleared. Others have installed alcohol gel dispensers for children to clean their hands before lunch.

The High Street chemist Boots said sales of anti-diarrhoea tablets were up by almost half on last year.

Experts gave warning yesterday that cases of the bug - which causes vomiting and diarrhoea and can be fatal to vulnerable groups such as the elderly - could continue to rise in the next six weeks.

New cases are now being diagnosed at the same rate as during the last official epidemic five years ago.

Helen Young, the clinical director of NHS Direct, which provides health advice over the phone, said: "Norovirus is a major issue for the whole NHS right now and we urge anyone who has symptoms to engage in good hygiene."