GPs have warned that rising numbers of people contracting swine flu is coinciding with an increase in people contracting norovirus, the winter vomiting bug, putting strain on family doctors.

Official statistics have shown that norovirus has been steadily increasing over the past few weeks and a bulletin to the NHS has now been issued warning that the increase is the usual indication of an approaching national outbreak.

Callers for the NHS direct service complaining about vomiting have now reached about 4% of all callers, indicating that the virus is now circulating in communities and according to the bulletin, marking the “beginning and continuation of periods of increased norovirus activity.”

The chairwomen of the London-based Local Medical Committees Dr Michelle Drage said that though GPs were used to seeing an increase in cases of norovirus and influenza over winter, when combined with the swine flu vaccination program they were expecting‘pretty hectic time’ over the coming months.

She added that patients with minor cases of flu should stay at home and not visit the doctor unless absolutely necessary. The Health Protection Agency said that as norovirus was highly contagious, good hygiene was essential, including frequent handwashing.

They warned that as there was no specific treatment for norovirus, most people would just need to let the illness run its course, drink lots of fluids and avoid preparing food for at least 48 hours after the symptoms had disappeared.