Medical professionals in South Yorkshire fear we're 'yet to see a peak' in winter norovirus cases
More of us are expected to get the sickness bug this month
Last updated 6th Jan 2026
As schools in South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire return today - medical professionals fear we could see a 'peak' in winter norovirus cases this month.
Before the Christmas break - many pupils ended up having time off school due to a spike in flu cases.
Doncaster GP - Dr Dean Eggitt - has this advice for anybody who's struggling with symptoms:
"The last thing you really want if you've got diarrhoea and vomiting is to sit in a waiting room that you might pass that on to.
"The same applies for influenza or RSV in babies.
"So, in ideal circumstances, if you do have a contagious illness, you are better off staying at home, so you don't pass it on to other people.
"We're yet to see the winter norovirus peak - so I do worry a little bit that is still yet to come.
"Often, that arrives in the January period, so in the next few weeks we expect to see a bit more of that.
"The human immune system doesn't work so well when we're cold, so we're much more susceptible to picking up these viruses.
"Also, we're more likely to huddle together in rooms, which increases the chances of viruses spreading.
"At the moment, the advice is the usual kind of stuff; cough or sneeze into a tissue - pop it into a bin and wash your hands afterwards, whilst covering your face wherever possible.
"However, I do believe we do have to continue life as normal."
You can read more about flu on the NHS' website below:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/