Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to inform you that there has been a case of Hepatitis A in a pupil who attends Parkhill Infants school. We have assessed the risk posed to students and staff as a result of their contact with the case. We have recommended that all children and staff in the reception classes be offered Hepatitis A vaccine in order reduce the risk of infection. No other children, staff or visitors to the school are currently being offered the vaccine.
The children and staff in reception classes will be offered vaccination on site at the school on Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th November 2019.
If any reception year pupils or staff are not able to be vaccinated during these planned in-school sessions, we will direct them to their GP to receive the necessary vaccination. Those eligible will be provided with a letter from PHE. If any of your registered patients present with such a letter, please facilitate their vaccination. We have been informed by NHS England that GPs will be reimbursed for any vaccines administered if the GP sends an appropriate invoice to them.
As you are no doubt aware, Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver which can be commonly transmitted via poor hygiene, through person to person spread or through contaminated foods or water. Symptoms can include unusual tiredness, myalgia, fever, anorexia, diarrhoea and vomiting, abdominal pain and of course jaundice. Hepatitis A infection is now uncommon in the UK. It can sometimes spread within families but the most common cause in the UK is due to foreign travel to countries where sanitation is poor. Young children with hepatitis A often have mild or no symptoms at all but can pass the infection to others.
This information is being given as a precaution to parents and staff of all year groups for information and as a reminder that good hygiene, especially after helping a child with toileting, offers protection.
Please manage any cases as clinically indicated. For notification and/or further information please contact the North East and North Central London Health Protection Team (NENCL HPT) on 020 3837 7084.
Yours faithfully,
Peter Lamb
Consultant in Health Protection
email: necl.team@phe.gov.uk
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