Officials are trying to identify the source
Friday, May 19, 2006
BY ROBERT E. MISSECK
Star-Ledger Staff
A sixth Cranford student has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, and health officials have yet to determine the source of the infection.
The latest case involves a fifth- grade girl at Orange Avenue Elementary School, school officials said.
Three other girls and a boy, all 11 years old and in the same grade at the school, were previously in fected. A second 11-year-old boy, who is home-schooled, was also diagnosed with the virus.

The infections began about three weeks ago.
School Superintendent Lawrence Feinsod said all five youngsters who initially contracted the virus are back in class.
“It’s reassuring to know that all of them have been given a clean bill of health,” he said.
But health officials have still not learned how the students contracted the virus. Health Officer Warren Hehl said he has found nothing that ties all the victims together.
Hehl said a preliminary investigation has ruled out the school cafeteria because the infection would have been more widespread.
It was also initially believed that the source might have been a restroom, but that was also ruled out.
“The Orange Avenue School holds all of the students who live in the northern quadrant of the township, and all of the victims live in the northeast quadrant of town,” he said.
“So now we are focusing on activities that occurred outside the school building,” said Hehl.
“We are looking, for example, at where the children played to see if they played in the same area be cause, if they did, that would ex plain the one home-schooled child who became infected,” he said.
Hepatitis A is a mild infection of the liver. It is spread by the ingestion of fecal-contaminated food or water.
Health authorities said there is no medical treatment for the hepatitis A virus. Those who contract the disease recover in two to six weeks with no permanent damage.
A number of parents asked why students are not being immunized.
Hehl said that would be a solu tion for the future since the children who became infected came down with the virus weeks ago.
Feinsod said the school’s Parent Teachers Association has purchased 70 dispensers containing liquid hand-cleaner and disinfec tant.
“We have installed them on the walls in each of the classrooms for the kids to use as well as in the cafeteria,” the superintendent said.
Still, parents have been expressing their concerns to the township health office and at least one parent has said she chose to keep her fifth-grade girl home for the time being.
Feinsod, however, says “enrollment has been quite normal.”
Robert E. Misseck covers Union County. He may be reached at rmis seck@starledger.com or (908) 302-1507.