Another case of hepatitis A has been detected in the local community around Gelligaer, Public Health Wales has confirmed.
The latest case, bringing the total to nine, comes a fortnight after 270 people were vaccinated against hepitatis A following an outbreak at Glyn-Gaer Primary School earlier this month.
Public Health Wales confirmed that the latest case is a close contact of a patient already confirmed with the infection, and did not contract the illness within the school.
Seven cases are now being attributed to the school, with a further two in the surrounding community.
Heather Lewis, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “Hepatitis A is a viral infection, usually short lived that has unpleasant symptoms but is rarely serious. Children often only have a very mild illness.
“Symptoms can include flu-like symptoms 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.
“Good hand washing after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food is the best way to prevent the virus spreading.
“Children may have very few symptoms but can pass the virus onto others so we are reminding parents to encourage good hand washing at all times.
“Parents are also being advised not to send their child to school for 7 days if hepatitis A is suspected.
“We are confident that to date, all the public health actions needed to control this outbreak have been taken and that the risk to the public remains low. However, due to the very long incubation period of hepatitis A we may see more cases.
“We continue to work closely with Environmental Health Officers to investigate this outbreak and to offer advice to parents, school staff and pupils.
“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.”
Hepatitis A vaccinations are not routinely offered on the NHS as the infection is rare in the UK, with only 13 reported cases in Wales in 2012.
Further information about hepatitis A is available on the Public Health Wales website at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/43692.
As we live in Wales, I am fully expecting the a Hepatitis A outbreak in the Welsh NHS. Standard of cleanliness at hospitals in the Gwent area are shocking.