Two hepatitis A cases were reported among pupils at Newcastle primary schools, and letters went home to families with hygiene advice. Benton Park Primary and Central Walker Primary stayed open while health bosses said the risk to the public, other pupils and teachers was low.
Jonathan Lawler, a consultant in health protection at UKHSA North East, said: "We are working with both schools and other relevant partners to ensure all necessary public health actions are carried out." He also said hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver.
Benton Park Primary and Central Walker
The schools sent advice and guidance to families after the cases were reported. UKHSA said the schools were working with partners and following health protection advice to increase hygiene measures to prevent transmission.
Lawler said: "Hepatitis A is present in the faeces (poo) of an infected person and can be passed to others if the ill person accidentally contaminates another person, food, water or the bathroom, toilet or towels, as a result of poor hand washing." He added: "The infection can then be picked up on other people’s hands and transferred to their mouth."
UKHSA and the North East
Public health bosses said there was no evidence of the illness being transmitted at either school. The guidance focused on handwashing hygiene, with the schools and UKHSA continuing public health actions together.
Lawler said: "The schools are working with partners and following health protection advice to increase hygiene measures to prevent transmission." The remaining practical issue for families is straightforward: follow the hygiene advice already sent out and watch for signs and symptoms that include fever, tummy ache, feeling unwell, dark urine, pale stools and jaundice of the eyes and skin.
