Hepatitis outbreak at school ; Four children hit by liver virus
March 10, 2006
My.accenture.com
Jane Woodhead
Source: Liverpool Echo (UK)
A hepatitis outbreak has struck down four children at a Merseyside school and 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.
Health officials were cited as saying today that 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 was quoted as saying, "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.
