THE number of outbreaks of infectious diseases such as norovirus and salmonella rose by 40% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period 12 months earlier.
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) said that on 98 occasions two or more linked cases of illness were recorded between January and March, up from the 70 the previous year.
Norovirus – commonly known as the winter vomiting bug – accounted for the majority of cases and affected at least 2015 people in 95 separate outbreaks, according to the figures.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of cases were in residential institutions while 28% were in hospitals.
In its surveillance report, HPS said the number of outbreaks had risen compared with the past two years.
The biggest single outbreak of the winter vomiting bug was in a residential institution in NHS Ayrshire and Arran, with 52 people becoming ill around the same time.
There was also one outbreak of salmonella and one of scombrotoxin, a form of food poisoning, which was linked to tuna sandwiches.
The figures were published as NHS Lothian said it was pledging a multi-million-pound package to prepare for this year's winter.
An early start to the norovirus season was said to be partially to blame.
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