Hepatitis outbreak at school
Mar 10 2006
By Jane Woodhead, Liverpool Echo
A HEPATITIS outbreak has struck down four children at a Merseyside school.
Five staff members have also been hit by the liver virus at Lander Road primary in Litherland.
All 215 pupils and staff will receive injections and give mouth swabs on Monday to ensure the hepatitis A outbreak does not spread.
The school has stopped selling toast, turned off its water fountains and instructed all children to wash their hands before and after going into the dining room.
Hepatitis A causes vomiting, jaundice and flu-like symptoms. It can also leave patients suffering intense fatigue for up to six months and, in very severe cases, lead to liver failure.
Health officials today said the outbreak started in the community and spread into the school.
Letters were sent home with their children on Tuesday, seven weeks after the first case.
One parent said: "We cannot understand why we are only being told about this outbreak now. The school stopped selling toast and turned its water fountains off seven weeks ago.
"Children have been told to wash their hands when entering and leaving the dining hall and we had had no idea why."
Merseyside Health Protection Agency today said the nine patients had made a full recovery.
Consultant Dr Evdokia Dardamissis said immunisation was being carried out to prevent further infection.
* For information, contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647and www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
* HEPATITIS A is a viral infection that can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and jaundice.
Symptoms usually last for up to two weeks, the patient will normally recover completely and have life-long immunity.
In very rare cases, hepatitis A can cause acute liver failure.
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/...e=hepatitis-outbreak-at-school-name_page.html
Mar 10 2006
By Jane Woodhead, Liverpool Echo
A HEPATITIS outbreak has struck down four children at a Merseyside school.
Five staff members have also been hit by the liver virus at Lander Road primary in Litherland.
All 215 pupils and staff will receive injections and give mouth swabs on Monday to ensure the hepatitis A outbreak does not spread.
The school has stopped selling toast, turned off its water fountains and instructed all children to wash their hands before and after going into the dining room.
Hepatitis A causes vomiting, jaundice and flu-like symptoms. It can also leave patients suffering intense fatigue for up to six months and, in very severe cases, lead to liver failure.
Health officials today said the outbreak started in the community and spread into the school.
Letters were sent home with their children on Tuesday, seven weeks after the first case.
One parent said: "We cannot understand why we are only being told about this outbreak now. The school stopped selling toast and turned its water fountains off seven weeks ago.
"Children have been told to wash their hands when entering and leaving the dining hall and we had had no idea why."
Merseyside Health Protection Agency today said the nine patients had made a full recovery.
Consultant Dr Evdokia Dardamissis said immunisation was being carried out to prevent further infection.
* For information, contact your GP or NHS Direct on 0845 4647and www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
* HEPATITIS A is a viral infection that can cause nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite and jaundice.
Symptoms usually last for up to two weeks, the patient will normally recover completely and have life-long immunity.
In very rare cases, hepatitis A can cause acute liver failure.
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/...e=hepatitis-outbreak-at-school-name_page.html