Another new case of hepatitis A has been detected at Ysgol Rhyd Y Grug Primary School in Aberfan, Public Health Wales has confirmed.
This latest case, just days after another was confirmed at Ysgol Rhydywaun secondary school in Penywaun, brings the total number of cases in the outbreak to 12.
The latest two cases are believed to have been caught through contact with pupils from Glyn-Gaer Primary School in Gelligaer who were already infected.
The total number of cases sits at 12, with 10 having an association with pupils in Glyn-Gaer Primary School and two being in the local community.
Heather Lewis, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales, said: “This new case is a pupil at Ysgol Rhyd Y Grug, but this pupil has been in contact with a confirmed hepatitis A case outside of the school environment and there is no suggestion that the school is the source of the infection.
“All new cases reported in the past week relate to the original cases associated with pupils in Glyn-Gaer School. Although these new cases attend different schools the infection was not caught in these schools.
“Parents at the school are being written to in order to provide information about hepatitis A and to reduce the risk that transmission will occur in these schools.
“In particular, parents are requested to ensure that children are meticulous about thoroughly washing their hands after going to the toilet or before eating as well as making sure that any new cases are immediately recognised and do not attend school if they are unwell.
“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, we still may see further cases arising from this outbreak as the incubation period for hepatitis A is so long. None of the new cases were unexpected.
“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.
“The incubation period (ie the time from coming into contact with the virus to developing the symptoms) is between two and six weeks which means people may not have any symptoms but still be contagious.
“The single most important thing people can do to prevent the virus spreading is to ensure they use good hand washing techniques after using the toilet and before preparing or eating food. This is especially important next week when many children will be on half term holiday and out and about without easy access to good toilet facilities.”
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.