Public Health warning as two Huddersfield schoolchildren get Hepatitis A

A public health warning has been issued after two children from the same Huddersfield school contracted Hepatitis A.

Dalton School in Mayfield Avenue has said it is working closely with health authorities to “prevent any further spread” after two children, who are in year one and two, were diagnosed with the virus.

Parents of pupils at the primary school have been told “not to worry” in an email sent out to them by the school and pupils and staff are being offered a “precautionary” Hepatitis A vaccination. An email sent out 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.

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“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. This ping 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 usually transmitted through ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct contact with an infectious person.

Hepatitis A 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 because the risk of getting the infection is so low.

A spokesperson for the UK Health security Agency said: “We can confirm that 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.” More information on hepatitis A can be found at the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-a/

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