Public Health warning as two UK schoolchildren diagnosed with rare disease
Parents have been made aware of a public health warning issued after two children from the same school contracted hepatitis A.
Dalton School in Huddersfield has said it is working closely with health authorities to "prevent any further spread". The unnamed youngsters, one in year one and another in year two, were diagnosed with the virus, which is usually transmitted through contaminated food and water. In an email sent out by the headteacher this week, concerned mums and dads were told “not to worry" as pupils and staff at the school are to be offered a "precautionary" hepatitis A vaccination.
According to YorkshireLive, the email sent to parents from headteacher Ian Richardson said: “I have been working with Public Health in order to support children and families in Y2 and Y1/Y2 where two children have contracted Hepatitis A. “These children are now out of incubation and offer zero risk to other children in the school.
“As a result, Public Health have asked me not to raise any unnecessary awareness. The important thing is to ask you not to worry as there is absolutely minimal risk to all other groups in the school.”
Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver that can cause mild to severe illness. It is listed as a ‘notifiable disease’ under the Public Health Act 1967 which means it is a legal requirement to report all cases to Public Health. Vaccines are not routinely administered in the UK as the risk of getting the infection is so low.
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A spokesman for the UK Health security Agency said: “We can confirm two hepatitis A cases have been identified within the Dalton Junior Infant and Nursery School. Both cases are doing well and are no longer infectious. As a precautionary measure, the hepatitis A vaccination was offered to all pupils and staff within the affected year group.
“We have worked closely with local health partners and Kirklees Council to provide considerable advice on messages to share with the affected year group, the wider school community and staff advising that the health risk to pupils is low, but to be vigilant to the symptoms of hepatitis A.
“Symptoms of hepatitis A can include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes), dark-coloured urine and itchy skin. There may be earlier flu-like symptoms including mild fever, joint and muscle pain, feeling and being sick, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and stomach pain. Not everyone infected will have all these symptoms. Anyone with suspected hepatitis A infection should contact their GP and remain at home, until their GP advises their return to school or the workplace.”
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