Two schools shut in hepatitis A outbreak in Barry and Penarth

Two schools have shut and pupils offered vaccinations after a cluster of five cases of Hepatitis A were confirmed.

The cases include pupils at Victoria Primary in Penarth and Palmerston Primary in Barry , which are both being deep cleaned as a precaution.

Palmerston was shut to pupils today for deep cleaning while Victoria  Primary was shut anyway for a staff training day, enabling cleaning to be carried out, Public Health Wales said.

Children in specific year groups at the two schools are being offered vaccinations against Hepatitis A as a precaution (Shared Content Unit)

Dr Rhianwen Stiff, consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health Wales said: “Public Health Wales is currently investigating a cluster of five confirmed cases of Hepatitis A in people living in the Vale of Glamorgan.

“We are working closely with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and the environmental health team at Shared Regulatory Services (SRS)Wales to investigate these cases and to offer advice to close contacts of the patients.

“As a precaution, children in specific year groups at Victoria Primary School in Penarth and Palmerston Primary School in Barry have been offered vaccination against Hepatitis A.

“There is no indication that the infection has been contracted on either school premises, and both schools are co-operating fully with arrangements.”

Dr Stiff said Hepatitis A is a viral infection that may cause a flu-like illness or gastrointestinal upset.

“Hepatitis A can be unpleasant, but it’s not usually serious and most people make a full recovery within a couple of months. Children often only have a very mild illness or do not have symptoms at all.”

Dr Stiff added that the virus can spread easily between young children, who will often not have symptoms but can still transmit infection to other people.

“The best way to prevent infection spreading is to encourage good hand washing at all times, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food.

“Symptoms 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.”

Hepatitis A is a notifiable disease.

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.