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School opening worries parents
By JOHN GILLIS Health Reporter
August 30, 2006

No new cases of hepatitis A have been identified in the past week, public health officials announced Tuesday.

But with classes set to resume next week, some Lower Sackville parents are worried the virus could have a resurgence among children in the community.

Twelve people have been infected since an outbreak began in early June. Five of them are students at Hillside Park Elementary School.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s medical officer of health, sent letters earlier this month to parents of children at the school describing the virus and its symptoms and urging them to alert public health about any potential cases.

Officials will be visiting each classroom at Hillside once school begins to teach children about proper handwashing, and more information will be sent home in registration kits. They’ll also give handwashing classes at nearby Sycamore Lane Elementary School.

Yet some Lower Sackville parents say they haven’t been told enough about how to protect against the spread of the virus.

"I think the public has to know more about it prior to school starting," said Patsy Byard, whose two daughters, aged eight and 11, attend Millwood Elementary School.

She said she and other parents with whom she’s spoken wonder whether more widespread vaccination should take place before kids are put back in close quarters.

"Some people are even considering not sending their children (back to school) because of the lack of information on this," Ms. Byard said. "I’m just afraid that once school starts it’s going to go crazy."

To date, only people who have had close contact with those infected, such as family members, have been vaccinated.

Hepatitis A is passed in the stool and can be transmitted through hand contact when people don’t properly wash after using the bathroom or changing a diaper and before preparing food.

Its flu-like symptoms include diarrhea and loss of appetite, dark urine and light-coloured stool. Infected people typically develop jaundice, with skin taking on a yellow colour. The virus usually passes in a few weeks.

Unlike hep B and C, transmitted through blood and body fluids, hep A does not lead to lifelong infection.

Dr. Strang said Tuesday there’s no need to for parents to fear the start of classes.

"I’m very comfortable saying it’s very safe for children to go back to school," he said.

Because the virus has a long incubation period, it’s possible more cases will appear. Dr. Strang said public health officials, family and emergency room doctors are on the lookout for new cases and are asking parents to be vigilant to make sure infected people are quickly isolated.

"If we identify a case in school we can keep them out of school until they’re not infectious," he said. "But we have to remember that the best way to prevent this spread is through good handwashing, and that’s what we’re really focusing on."

In early August, public health officials held three information sessions in the community, including one at Hillside and one at Rock Church.

Some of the cases have been connected to events put on by the church.

Dr. Strang said there are no plans for more such sessions.

"If we get further spread and there’s any indication that we need to do more public information, we’ll certainly do that," he said.