Hepatitis A Outbreak Update – Information Issued By Public Health Wales

One new case has been confirmed in the outbreak of Hepatitis A which is being investigated by Public Health Wales and its local authority and health board partners. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This now brings the total number of cases to 12, with 10 having an association with pupils in Glyn Gaer school and two being in the Caerphilly community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Heather Lewis, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “This new case is a pupil at Ysgol Rhyd Y Grug, but this pupil has been in contact with a confirmed hepatitis A case outside of the school environment and there is no suggestion that the school is the source of the infection. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“All new cases reported in the past week relate to the original cases associated with pupils in Glyn Gaer School. Although these new cases attend different schools the infection was not caught in these schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Parents at the school are being written to in order to provide information about hepatitis A and to reduce the risk that transmission will occur in these schools. In particular, parents are requested to ensure that children are meticulous about thoroughly washing their hands after going to the toilet or before eating. As well as making sure that any new cases are immediately recognised and do not attend school if they are unwell. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are confident that to date, all the public health actions needed to control this outbreak have been taken and that the risk to the public remains low. However, we still may see further cases arising from this outbreak as the incubation period for hepatitis A is so long. None of the new cases were unexpected. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Hepatitis A is a viral infection, usually short lived that has unpleasant symptoms but is rarely serious. Children often only have a very mild illness. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The incubation period (ie the time from coming into contact with the virus to developing the symptoms) is between two and six weeks which means people may not have any symptoms but still be contagious. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The single most important thing people can do to prevent the virus spreading is to ensure they use good hand washing techniques after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food. This is especially important next week when many children will be on half term holiday and out and about without easy access to good toilet facilities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Symptoms can of Hepatitis A can include flu-like illness such as tiredness, general aches and pains, headaches and fever, as well as loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pains, jaundice, very dark urine and itchy skin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

People are advised to contact their own GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 if they have any concerns about their health or their child’s health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hepatitis A vaccination is not routinely offered on the NHS as the infection is rare in the UK, with only 13 reported cases in Wales in 2012. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, it is advised that anyone travelling to a country where the infection is more common (particularly Africa, northern and southern Asia, Central America and southern and eastern Europe) should receive the Hepatitis A vaccination along with any other travel immunisations recommended by their GP. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​