Winter vomiting, which is otherwise known as the Norovirus, causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea.

It can be transmitted through infected food or water or by air.

A report by Health Protection Scotland revealed more than 2,000 people caught the virus last year, with the highest levels of infection in Forth Valley.

Despite the overall increase, the rate of the Norovirus infection dropped in four NHS Boards including Borders, Grampian, Orkney and Western Isles.

The report said this could be due to differences in clinical or reporting practices.

In November, 40 pupils were struck down by the bug at a primary school in Selkirk.

The Norovirus was first recognised in the following an outbreak of winter vomiting in a school in the town of Norwalk, Ohio, USA.